Xanthium spinosum

Xanthium spinosum L., Sp. Pl. 987 1753. (syn: Acanthoxanthium spinosum (L.) Fourr.; Acanthoxanthium spinosum subsp. catharticum (Kunth) D.Löve; Xanthium catharticum Kunth; Xanthium spinosum var. heterocephalum Widder; Xanthium spinosum var. inerme Bel);

Images by Gurcharan Singh & Gurcharan Singh

  

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Kashmir;

Xanthium spinosum from Kashmir – efloraofindia | Google Groups

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A South American plant having become invasive in many parts of Old World.
Perhaps a recent introduction in Kashmir, where it has become common along roadsides and waste places.

Annual plant, up to 1 m tall, often much branched; nodes with spines in pairs, simple or 2-3 partite, 1.5-4 cm long; leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, up to 5 cm broad, often 3-7-lobed, shining green on upper surface, gray or white beneath; heads globose, in racemes, lower usually pistillate, upper functionally male; burs enclosing cypselae, prickly, 10-15 mm long.

Photographed from Balgarden (July) and Harwan (August) in Kashmir. I had photographed it last year also but then it was in vegetative state. Was able to get flowers and fruits this year.

Asteraceae Fortnight Part 2-Discoid heads: Xanthium spinosum from Kashmir -GS65 : Attachments (2).  4 posts by 2 authors.

 

References:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/gcc-131365