Pirri-pirri-bur
Pirri-pirri-bur fruiting heads, Holy Island
Flowerhead
Individual flowers
Spiny fruiting head
4-spined seed attached to my trainer
Warning notice, Holy Island
Leaves in background
Acaena novae-zelandiae
Rosaceae
June to July
It is thinly scattered throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Pirri-pirri-bur
Pirri-pirri-bur is a neophyte, which came to the UK as a
contaminant of imported wool, and has been known in
the wild since the early 900s.
It grows on well-drained sandy soils.
It causes problems where it has colonised dunes and
dune slacks, such as on Holy Island, Northumberland,
and in north Norfolk.
The burrs attach to clothes, trainers and pets and are
transported elsewhere - hence the warning notice in
the picture.
It is prostrate, stoloniferous, perennial herb growing
up to 15cm.
The flowerheads are up to 1cm.
Individual flowers are seen as 4 yellow-green sepals.
In fruit, the flowerheads are larger.
Seeds have 4 spines and are very difficult to remove
from clothing.
Leaves have 3-4 leaflets, which are up to 1cm long.
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Pirri-pirri-bur fruiting heads, Holy Island
Flowerhead
Individual flowers
Spiny fruiting head
4-spined seed attached to my trainer
Warning notice, Holy Island
Leaves in background
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