Acanthospermum hispidum DC., Asteraceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: bristly starbur, goat's head, goathead, hispid starburr, starburr, Texas cockspur

French: herbe tricorne

Spanish: carapichno, corona de la reina, cuagrilla, cuajrilla, espinho de cigano

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stems erect, 2-8 dm long, diffusely branched, pubescent with long, spreading and also short, appressed hairs.  Leaves elliptic to ovate, 2-10 cm long, 1-7 cm wide, with glands on lower surface, margins serrate to subentire, gradually narrowed to base, sessile.  Heads 4-5 mm in diameter at anthesis.  Burs cuneate, strongly compressed, 4-7 mm long, the ribs bearing 1-2 rows of hooked prickles 1-2 mm long, the 2 apical prickles stout, curved or straight, 3-4 mm long." (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 252).

"The hairy stem, yellow-green florets, opposite leaves and fruits with hooked spines (two longer than the rest arising from the apex) and arranged in the form of flat stars are the distinguishing characteristics of this species"  (Holm et al., 1997; p. 6).

Habitat/ecology:  "Adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions.  It is particularly adapted to light textured soils but also grows well in heavy textured soils.  It is commonly found in cultivated upland crops, roadsides, pastures, waste areas, around corrals, and along railroads and cattle trails. Both seeds and leaves contain phenolic acids that are allelopathic to other plants" (Holm et al., 1997; pp. 6-7).  "Found in a wide range of habitats. Common on roadsides, disturbed areas and around settlements. Known to invade pastures and out-compete more desirable native species. Also a weed of crops and a serious contaminant of wool" (Smith, 2002; p. 56).

Propagation:  "Seed is spread when adhered to clothing, fur, etc. or as a contaminant of hay and fodder. Seeds also float and can be spread by floodwaters. A prolific seeder, however seeds are reported to be relatively short lived, approximately three years." (Smith, 2002; p. 56).

Native range:  Northern South America (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 252).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2011) Voucher cited: S.P. Perlman, K.R. Wood & J.-Y. Meyer 15871 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1997) (voucher ID: PTBG 26377) Taxon name on voucher: Acanthospermum hispidum DC.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 252) Voucher cited: Hosaka s.n. (BISH). Naturalized on Moloka‘i Ranch

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 4)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (p. 56)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (p. 56)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced invasive	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 273) In wasteland.
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 4)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 189)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 5)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (pp. 4, 10)

Comments:  Prohibited in Western Australia and a declared noxious weed in the Northern Territory (Smith, 2002; p. 56).

Control: 

Physical:  "Good results have been gained where seeds have been vacuumed from the ground and then burnt" (Smith, 2002; p. 56).

Additional information:
Data sheet from the University of Florida (PDF).

Additional online information about Acanthospermum hispidum is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Acanthospermum hispidum as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Acanthospermum hispidum may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. 2011. Base de données botaniques Nadeaud de l'Herbier de la Polynésie Française (PAP). (online resource).

Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution. John Wiley & Sons. 1129 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro. 2004. Invasive alien species in Japan: the status quo and the new regulation for prevention of their adverse effects. Global Environmental Research 8(2)/2004: 171-191.

Smith, Nicholas M. 2002. Weeds of the wet/dry tropics of Australia - a field guide. Environment Centre NT, Inc. 112 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.