What: Spiny Burrgrass
It’s gnarly and sounds like it would win a fight against the cats eye burr.
Why: It’s not from round here but it will grow well in the type of conditions we have. We must be careful not to help it spread.
Like all burrs, it will:
- Stick to clothes
- Stick to animal fur
- Get stuck in your shoes and car tyres.
They say you will probably need tweezers to get them out of your skin.
Action taken: The council tell us that biosecurity officers have sprayed the weeds found at the Wilcannia Cemetery. No further details are given about the weed spray.
When visiting the cemetery:
- Park in designated areas
- Don’t take your pets
- Check your shoes and clothes before leaving.
Where has it come from?
Up north in Queensland.
Photos: Wilcannia News
How has it spread?
- By animals
- Materials used to build roads
- Cars and other vehicles
- Water.
The power of this grass: Up to three seeds come from each “burr”. Each plant can make up to 1000 seeds. The first-formed, or primary seed, is the largest and is capable of making more seeds within a few months of growing. The other seeds, or secondary seeds, usually lie quietly waiting for up to three years. NSW WeedWise
Differences between spiny burr grass and cat’s eye:
- Cat’s eye grows low along the ground [above centre]
- Spiny burrgrass grows tall and grass like [above left].
To get rid of it without chemicals, Cat’s eye can be removed by hand and the remains burnt. Spiny burrgrass needs something else planted in the soil to bump out the seeds waiting to grow.
Also, we need to prevent the thing from seeding.
This article appeared in Wilcannia News, Mid April 2025.
