Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK | |
Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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Field Sandbur |
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COMMON NAME: | Field Sandbur |
SCIENTIFIC NAME: | Cenchrus incertus M.A. Curtis |
TYPE: | Annual Warm-season Weedy Grass |
DESCRIPTION | |
Germination: | May to August. |
Reproduction: | By seeds in June to October. |
Stems: | Often spreading and mat-like, 6 inches to 2 feet long. |
Leaves: | Blades smooth, twisted, 2 to 5 inches long. |
Flowers/ Inflorescence: |
A raceme of burs, spikelets 2-flowered, 1-3 spikelets per bur. |
Fruit: | Seed unit with 1-3 spikelets per unit. |
FOUND: |
Field sandbur is found mostly on sandy soil. It is troublesome mainly because the spiny burs cause discomfort to livestock. |
CONTROL: |
Field sandbur has continual emergence throughout the summer and causes problems with control especially with non-residual herbicides like POAST PLUS and SELECT. Some control has resulted with dormant incorporated applications of TREFLAN in February-March. |
Jim Stritzke Former Alfalfa Weed Control Specialist Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Oklahoma State University |