ROADWEEDS OF THE UPPER PENINSULA

Burdock is a common weed of old farms, introduced from Europe and now widespread throughout Michigan.  It's most commonly recognized in the fall by the brown cockleburs, which are 1/2 - 3/4 quarter inch round balls of barbed spikes.  They stick to just about anything, even nylon pants and hairy legs!  It's fun to toss the cockleburs into someone's hair, as long as you know the secret of removal . . . pull the hair from the cocklebur, not the cocklebur from the hair!  Burdock has huge leaves, especially at the base of the plant, somewhat similar to rhubarb.  The plant can reach heights of five feet and have a large branched crown with dozens of cockleburs.

 Return to the Green Flower Page, or to the Michigan Invasive Plant Council home page.

This website is maintained by Bill Cook in cahoots with the Michigan Invasive Plant Council (MIPC).  The MIPC is a loose group of folks (not necessarily a group of loose folks!) working to make information available about invasive plants in Michigan and related issues.  If you have questions or comments about the information on this page, contact Bill. 

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