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Bur Grass
Tragus berteronianus
SA tree number
English: Bur Grass, Small Carrot-Seed Grass, Burgrass, Carrot Seed Grass, African Burgrass, African Bur-Grass, Small Carrot Seed Grass, Small Bur-Grass, Carrot Grass, Carrot-seed Grass, Small Carrotseed Grass, Spiked Carrot-seed Grass, Burr Grass, African Bur-Grass
Afrikaans: Dikgaarwortelsaadgras, Gewone Wortelsaadgras, Haasgras, Haasklits, Kleinwortelsaadgras, Klitsgras, Kousgras, Luisgras, Lysgras, Raasklits, Wolgras, Wolklits, Wortelsaadgras
Shona: Nama
Synonyms: Lappago aliena, Nazia aliena
Misapplied or old scientific names: Tragus racemosus
Tragus berteronianus, commonly known as Burgrass or Small Carrot-Seed Grass, is an annual grass that can grow up to 45 cm tall. It's easily identified by its short, broad, wavy leaves and its spike-like flower heads covered in barbed hairs, which are great at sticking to things.
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Distinguishing features:
Erect or ascending annual grass, up to 45 cm tall.
Short, broad, and wavy leaves, 1.5–5.5 cm long and 2–5 mm wide, with spaced hairs along the margin.
Inflorescence is a long, dense spike, 3.5–15 cm long, compactly cylindrical and congested.
Spikelets are covered in barbed hairs, making them easily stick to clothing and fur.
Found in disturbed areas, roadsides, and overgrazed soil.
Overall appearance:
A small, tufted, annual or short-lived perennial grass.
Height:
Typically 10-45 cm tall.
Width:
Forms small clumps or tufts.
Leaves:
Narrow, linear leaves, 2-10 cm long and 2-5 mm wide. They are usually hairy, especially near the base. The leaf sheaths are also hairy.
Flowers:
Tiny flowers are arranged in spikelets, which are clustered together in a narrow, spike-like inflorescence.
Flowering season: Throughout the year, especially after rain.
Fruits:
The "burrs" are actually the mature spikelets, which contain the seeds. They are covered in sharp spines that help them cling to animals and clothing.
Seeds:
Small, grain-like seeds enclosed within the burr.
Thorns:
The burrs have sharp spines, which act like thorns for seed dispersal.
Roots:
Shallow, fibrous root system.
Soil type:
Tolerates a variety of soil types, but prefers well-drained soil.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun.
Edibility:
Palatable to grazing animals (though not a preferred forage grass).
Ecology:
Widespread and common.
Dispersed easily by means of hooked prickles which aid in attachment to clothing, fur, etc.
Seeds also moved by water, wind, and as a contaminant.
Can carry mosaic plant diseases that can affect other plants, such as maize dwarf mosaic and sugarcane mosaic viruses.
Distribution and habitat:
Not endemic to South Africa, meaning it's found in other parts of the world too.
Within South Africa, it's widely distributed across the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape provinces.
Also found worldwide in Africa, Arabia, Afghanistan, and China, as well as tropical and subtropical regions of the New World.
Occurs in disturbed areas, on roadsides, and on bare or overgrazed soil.
Altitude range: Up to 1490 m.
Terrestrial major system.
Derivation of name:
The species name berteronianus honours Carlo Luigi Guiseppe Bertero (1789-1831), an Italian botanist, naval physician, pharmacist, and traveller.
Interesting facts:
This grass is a real globetrotter! It's found all over South Africa and in many other parts of the world, like Africa, Asia, and even the New World tropics!
Its spikelets are like tiny velcro hooks, designed to stick to anything passing by – clothes, animal fur – making it a super efficient seed disperser!
Even though it's not a favourite, animals can still munch on it, so it's not totally useless for grazing!
Growing tips:
Being an annual grass, it completes its life cycle within one growing season.
It prefers full sun.
It thrives in disturbed areas, so it's quite tough and adaptable.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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