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Common Name: Cocklebur

General Information

Xanthium strumarium is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.75 metres tall.
It has edible, medicinal and miscellaneous uses.

Known Hazards

Poisonous[, ]. Most members of this genus are toxic to grazing animals and are usually avoided by them[]. The seed also contains toxins[].

Botanical References

,

Range

A cosmopolitan plant, a locally established casual in Britain[].

Habitat

River banks, lake shores, cultivated ground and pastures[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position, succeeding in most soils. Prefers a poor dry soil[].
Hardy to about -15°c[].
Plants often self sow and in some parts of the world have become noxious weeds[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young plants - cooked[, , ]. They must be thoroughly boiled and then washed[]. Caution is advised, the plant is probably poisonous[].
Seed - raw or cooked[]. It can be used as a piñole[]. The seed can be ground into a powder and mixed with flour for making bread, cakes etc[, ]. The seed contains about 36.7% protein, 38.6% fat, 5.2% ash[]. It also contains a glycoside[] and is probably poisonous.

Medicinal

The leaves and root are anodyne, antirheumatic, appetizer, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, laxative and sedative[, , , ]. The plant is considered to be useful in treating long-standing cases of malaria[] and is used as an adulterant for Datura stramonium[]. An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, diseased kidneys and tuberculosis[]. It has also been used as a liniment on the armpits to reduce perspiration[].
The fruits contain a number of medically active compounds including glycosides and phytosterols[]. They are anodyne, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, cytotxic, hypoglycaemic and stomachic[, ]. They are used internally in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, catarrh, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, constipation, diarrhoea, lumbago, leprosy and pruritis[, ]. They are also used externally to treat pruritis[]. The fruits are harvested when ripe and dried for later use[].
The root is a bitter tonic and febrifuge[]. It has historically been used in the treatment of scrofulous tumours[]. A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of high fevers and to help a woman expel the afterbirth[].
A decoction of the seeds has been used in the treatment of bladder complaints[]. A poultice of the powdered seed has been applied as a salve on open sores[].

Other Uses

The dried leaves are a source of tannin[].
A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[].
The seed powder has been used as a blue body paint[].
The dried plant repels weevils from stored wheat grain[].
The seed contains an essential oil[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[]. The seed requires plenty of moisture in order to germinate.