Buffalo burr (Solanum rostratum)

Buffalo burr invades disturbed areas and overgrazed land and may injure stock, causes fault in wool and can be a problem in cereal crops.

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How does this weed affect you?

Buffalo burr is a native from Canada to central Mexico and was first recorded as a weed in Australia in 1904. It invades disturbed areas and overgrazed land and may injure stock, causes fault in wool and can be a problem in cereal crops. The plant is poisonous, however is seldom eaten because of its prickly nature.

What does it look like?

Buffalo burr is a hairy, prickly annual herb up to 1 m tall.  The greyish leaves are deeply divided, up to 10 cm long and 8 cm wide. Flowers are bright yellow, up to 4 cm in diameter and mostly present in summer. The fruit is 1 cm in diameter and very prickly.

How does it spread?

Seed is mostly spread as a contaminant of grain crops. The prickly calyx which grasps the fruit can stick to wool and bags and can float on water. The old plants can snap off and blow around as tumble-weeds.

References

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 15/02/2021 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Solanum~rostratum

More information

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Control

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.


2,4-D LV ester 680g/L (Estercide® Xtra)
Rate: 800 mL - 1.15 L / Ha
Comments: Use in grass pastures only. Seedling to pre-flowering. Use higher rate as plants mature.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate


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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area Duty
All of NSW General Biosecurity Duty
All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

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For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2021