Practical
Plants

Xanthium strumarium

Cocklebur

an annual member of the Xanthium genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.75 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Poisonous[19][20]. Most members of this genus are toxic to grazing animals and are usually avoided by them[11]. The seed also contains toxins[11].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and young plants - cooked[8][1][5]. They must be thoroughly boiled and then washed[7]. Caution is advised, the plant is probably poisonous[10]. Seed - raw or cooked[9]. It can be used as a piñole[14]. The seed can be ground into a powder and mixed with flour for making bread, cakes etc[1][14]. The seed contains about 36.7% protein, 38.6% fat, 5.2% ash[7]. It also contains a glycoside[7] and is probably poisonous.

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and root are anodyne, antirheumatic, appetizer, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, laxative and sedative[18][3][6][11]. The plant is considered to be useful in treating long-standing cases of malaria[13] and is used as an adulterant for Datura stramonium[18]. An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, diseased kidneys and tuberculosis[14]. It has also been used as a liniment on the armpits to reduce perspiration[14]. The fruits contain a number of medically active compounds including glycosides and phytosterols[16]. They are anodyne, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, antitussive, cytotxic, hypoglycaemic and stomachic[12][16]. They are used internally in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, catarrh, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, constipation, diarrhoea, lumbago, leprosy and pruritis[12][14]. They are also used externally to treat pruritis[12]. The fruits are harvested when ripe and dried for later use[12]. The root is a bitter tonic and febrifuge[13]. It has historically been used in the treatment of scrofulous tumours[11]. A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of high fevers and to help a woman expel the afterbirth[14]. A decoction of the seeds has been used in the treatment of bladder complaints[14]. A poultice of the powdered seed has been applied as a salve on open sores[14].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antifungal
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Antiperiodic
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic
Product or use
Cytotoxic
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried leaves are a source of tannin[2]. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[6]. The seed powder has been used as a blue body paint[14]. The dried plant repels weevils from stored wheat grain[6]. The seed contains an essential oil[15].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
A cosmopolitan plant, a locally established casual in Britain[4].
Habitat
River banks, lake shores, cultivated ground and pastures[17].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[12]. The seed requires plenty of moisture in order to germinate.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a sunny position, succeeding in most soils. Prefers a poor dry soil[12]. Hardy to about -15°c[12]. Plants often self sow and in some parts of the world have become noxious weeds[12].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  9. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  13. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  15. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  16. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2

  17. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  19. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  20. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

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