Sticker Plants: Louisiana's Thorny Invaders (2024)

Sticker plants, also known as sticker grass, are a common nuisance in Louisiana. They are low-growing grass-like weeds that produce burs, which are spiny seeds that mature in the summer. These seeds can cause pain when stepped on and can get stuck in socks, pet hair, and other fabrics. While the exact species may vary, some common types of sticker plants include the sandbur (Cenchrus incertus) and Torilis arvensis, also known as beggar's lice.

Sticker grass is a common name for bur-producing plants

Sticker grass is a common name for a variety of bur-producing plants. These plants are characterised by their ability to produce sharp, spiny foliage and/or spiked burrs, often referred to as sticker burrs. Sticker grass typically refers to various species within the genus Cenchrus and Soliva.

Sticker grass is a grass-like weed that is low-growing and lateral. It is known by many names, including grass bur, sticker bur, and sandbur. The latter name comes from the plant's preference for sandy soil, often found near highways and baseball diamonds. Sandbur was first identified in the 18th century by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus, the author of Species Plantarum, a seminal work in plant taxonomy.

The "burs" produced by sticker grass plants are actually spiny seeds that mature in the summer. These seeds are a defence mechanism to prevent the plant from being eaten by hungry foragers like deer. The seeds are designed to adhere to clothing, footwear, and animal fur, ensuring their dispersal and propagation.

Sticker grass is particularly prevalent in Texas, where it has been dubbed a "nuisance" and a "pernicious, noxious, and hateful" weed by weed specialists. It is a challenge for farmers, as cows and sheep dislike eating it due to its painful spines, and it contaminates wool and mohair, leading to financial losses.

To get rid of sticker grass, one can use herbicides to prevent seed germination. However, other recommended methods include frequent mowing and watering of Bermuda grass, planting St. Augustine grass, or the laborious task of pulling out each sandbur by hand.

Sticker burs are also known as 'stick tights' and 'beggar's lice'

Sticker burs, also known as stick tights and beggars' lice, are a nuisance in many parts of the United States, particularly in the South and Southwest. They are a type of weed that produces small, spiny seeds that mature in the summer. These seeds, known as burs, are very sticky and difficult to remove from clothing, pet fur, and other surfaces. The burs can cause pain if stepped on and can be a problem for livestock, as well as contaminating wool and mohair.

The sticker bur is often associated with the state of Texas, where it is considered a symbol of the untamed and inhospitable nature of the landscape. They are commonly found in lawns, fields, and along highways, particularly in sandy soils. While they have been the bane of many a barefoot child, they also serve as a lesson in cautiousness, teaching Texans to pick and choose their fights with the landscape wisely.

The sticker bur is produced by a grass-like weed called the sandbur, which was first identified in the 18th century by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus. There are several varieties of sandbur, including southern, longspine, and field sandbur, and they are all found in Texas. While herbicide can be used to prevent the seeds from germinating, the most effective ways to get rid of sticker burs are to mow and water lawns frequently, plant competing grass species, or pull the sandbur out by hand.

The common names "stick tights" and "beggars' lice" can also refer to other plants, such as Hackelia virginiana, a biennial plant native to Eastern Canada and the Midwestern and Eastern United States, and certain Desmodium species, also known as "tick-trefoil". However, in this context, we are specifically referring to the sticker bur and its associated sandbur weed.

Sticker burs are the spiny seeds of a grasslike weed called the sandbur

Sticker burs, or sticker grass, are the spiny seeds of a grasslike weed called the sandbur. While the sandbur was first identified in the eighteenth century by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus, it continues to be a nuisance for many, especially in the southern United States.

The sandbur plant has several species, including southern, longspine, and field sandbur (Cenchrus incertus). These plants thrive in the sandy soils of southern states like Texas and Louisiana, particularly in areas beside highways and baseball diamonds, where sand containing sandbur seeds is often used as fill.

The sticker burs produced by the sandbur plant are a source of frustration for both humans and animals. They can cause pain when stepped on, and they can become tangled in the fur of animals, requiring tedious removal. For farmers, the sandbur is problematic as it contaminates wool and mohair, leading to financial losses.

To eliminate sticker burs, one can use herbicides to prevent the seeds from germinating. Additionally, frequent mowing and watering of Bermuda grass, planting St. Augustine grass, or manually pulling out the sandbur plants are effective methods of control. While time-consuming, manual removal can be successful, as evidenced by an individual who achieved a sticker-free yard after three years of dedicated weeding.

Sandbur seeds mature in the summer and are painful to eat

Sandbur seeds, also known as "stickers" or "sandspurs", are the bane of many a barefoot child in Louisiana and beyond. The seeds are housed in rounded, sharp-spined burs that mature in the summer and readily detach from the plant when ripe. These spiny seeds are a menace to humans and animals alike, causing pain when stepped on and contaminating wool and mohair.

The sandbur plant, a grasslike weed, was first identified in the 18th century by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus. Today, there are several varieties, including southern, longspine, and field sandbur (Cenchrus incertus). Sandburs thrive in the sandy soil of the southern United States, particularly along highways and baseball diamonds, where their seeds are spread as fill.

The pain caused by sandbur seeds is not just a minor inconvenience. Cows and sheep find them painful to eat, and for humans, the seeds can be difficult to remove from socks and shoelaces. The seeds have even been known to puncture skin, causing a lasting ache.

To make matters worse, sandburs are challenging to eradicate. While herbicides can be used to prevent seed germination, the most effective methods of removal are time-consuming and labour-intensive, including frequent mowing and watering, planting competing grass species, or manually pulling out the weeds.

In conclusion, sandbur seeds are a painful nuisance for both humans and animals, and their summer maturation only adds to the challenge of avoiding and eradicating them.

Sandbur is considered a 'nuisance' weed

Sandbur, also known as bur grass, bear grass, hedgehog grass, longspine sandbur, or field sandbur, is considered a nuisance weed. This grassy annual weed is a notorious invasive species, registered in 46 states as a noxious weed. It is most common in the southern United States, but has also been found in states like Washington, DC, and Northern California.

Sandbur thrives in dry and sandy regions, which is how it got its name. The weed typically germinates in the spring and continues to grow until the first frost kills it off in the fall. It produces a seedpod that sticks to clothing, animal fur, and skin, and its hitchhiking activity allows it to spread quickly. The spiny burs with needle-like barbs are annoying and painful, making sandbur a challenge to control.

The weed often goes unnoticed until the seed heads become evident, as it blends easily with turf grasses due to its light green colour. It can grow to varying lengths, but the widths of the grass blades are no more than 1/4 of an inch. Sandbur blooms between June and November, with its flowering structures growing in spike formations.

To prevent the spread of sandbur, good weed control and a well-maintained lawn are essential. Regular mowing and watering of lawns can help, as well as planting St. Augustine grass, which shades and crowds out sandbur. While herbicides can be used to prevent seed germination, they should be a last resort, with organic approaches being safer and more environmentally friendly. Pulling the weed or using pre-emergent herbicides in late winter to early spring are also effective methods of control.

The tenacious nature of sandbur and its ability to quickly spread make it a nuisance for homeowners and gardeners, requiring a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical methods to eradicate.

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