VMS -- Botany (f53r) Cocklebur

[Dana Scott <dfscott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is a very well known plant commonly referred to as cocklebur, a
species of Xanthium, which it is believed originated in South America.
It is a toxic plant and was the inspiration for the invention of Velcro.
It was known to Fuchs (1545; ref. below). Apparently there is a stage of
growth in the plant where the leaves are retarded in development (they
are conspicuously missing in the VMS). I find it interesting that only
one of two seeds in each bur is released in the first year followed by
the second seed a year later. An number of Xanthium species appear to be
reasonable matches. Futher investigation will need to be pursued to
decide which is the favored choice. Xanthium pensylvanicum seems to be a
good place to start.

Common Cocklebur: (Xanthium pensylvanicum)
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/library/poisonous/page15.htm

Photo:
http://www.callutheran.edu/wf/chap/flowers/picts/bjc-1446.jpg
http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/fo02/ulm/xanthium_album_1.jpg

http://www.bahiker.com/pictures/garin/websize/cocklebur9.10.99.jpg
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/photos/xanst02.jpg
http://www.fotodisardegna.it/flora/n/ang0125.htm
http://www.mtwow.org/Xastr_1.jpg
http://kepu.yam.com/plant/images/zzcb008a.JPG
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/LCP/LCP131.JPG
http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/fo02/ulm/xanthium_album_1.jpg

http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~macklin/Sept21/Xanthium.jpg
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/photos/xanst03.jpg
http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=6249+3022+3913+0072
http://www.hort.net/gallery/view/ast/xanec/
http://www.clunet.edu/wf/chap/flowers/fwr-335.htm
http://www.vvm.com/~jevans/cocklebur.gif
http://www.huis.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/%7Enomura/O/onamom.html
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/ppstslcockl.htm

Description:
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plapr98.htm
http://www.naturesongs.com/vvplants/cocklebur.html
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/library/poisonous/page15.htm
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/agency/pubns/farmnote/2000/f04100.htm
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cockle81.html
http://www.abc.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/carglyco.html
http://www.inra.fr/Internet/Centres/Dijon/malherbo/hyppa/hyppa-f/xansi_fh.htm#Description
de la plante adulte
http://ouellette001.com/flore/Groupes/Spermatophytes/Angiospermes/Dicotyles/103Composees/12_Xanthium/Genre.htm

http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/NSEP/toxic_plants/POR/xanthium/index.htm
http://www.vet.uga.edu/VPP/NSEP/toxic_plants/Eng/xanthium/index.htm
http://cal.nbc.upenn.edu/poison/AgBook/robinia.htm#Xanthium
http://www.herbalremedies-e.com/herbs-c/cockle.html

Velcro:
http://www.mountaintimes.net/F-W-Cocklebur.htm

Poisonous: (hydroquinone)
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/library/poisonous/page15.htm
http://www.pprl.usu.edu/other_toxic_plants.htm

Illustration:
http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/thome/band4/tafel_117_small.jpg

Herbarium:
http://www.agr.gouv.qc.ca/dgpar/arico/herbierv/xanst/xanst1.JPG

Cocklebur:
http://www.agron.iastate.edu/~weeds/WeedBiolLibrary/245150.JPG
http://www.unex.es/botanica/bw/xanstr.gif

Herbal: (Fuchs Botanical;1545)
http://www.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de/pflanzen/332-3b.html

Complete Fuchs Botanical: (1545; 516 woodcuts) {Fuchs, Leonhard,
1501-1566}
http://www.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de/pflanzen/index.html

Regards,
Dana Scott