IDENTIFICATION
Regional Noxious. Annual.
Puncturevine produces numerous, long, trailing stems covered in
leaves that are hairy and divided into six to eight oval leaflets. It
has tiny, yellow, five-petal flowers borne singly on short stalks. Puncturevine
produces sharp-pointed fruits (burrs) which break into five sections at
maturity. Mature plants can form mats up to 100 cm wide, with 150 cm long
stems.
DAMAGE
The hard, spiny burrs of puncturevine can damage wool and injure
livestock and other animals. It can be toxic to livestock, especially
sheep. The spiny burrs can penetrate human skin and have been known to
puncture bicycle tires.
HABITAT
In British Columbia, puncturevine occurs in the dry grasslands
of the Interior. It grows along roads, beaches, and in pastures, dry fields,
and disturbed habitats. It is known only in the Okanagan at Osoyoos Lake
and Oliver, where it is a major concern, and rarely in other areas of
the province.
SPREAD
It is spread when the spiny burrs attach to animals, humans, or the tires
of vehicles.
