Prostrate; multiple stems that spread radially from crown; up to 3 ft. long (sometimes longer); highly branched, green to reddish-brown and often hairy
Opposite, usually hairy, pinnate-compound, 1-2 in. long, with 3-7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oval and 0.2-0.6 in. long; edges (margins) are smooth
Yellow, 0.2-0.6 in. diameter, with 5 petals; arise from leaf axils
Fruit is a woody bur that breaks into 5 sections (nutlets) at maturity; each nutlet has 2 stout, spines and contains 3-5 seeds
Slender, deep taproot; can associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Grows best in dry, sandy soils; often infests roadsides, crop fields and waste areas; known to occur in all Nevada counties
Annual; reproduces by seed
Also known as goathead, Mexican sandbur, Texas sandbur and tackweed; spines on fruit can cause injury to livestock and humans and can also puncture tires; foliage can be toxic to livestock
Frequent hand-removal or tillage prior to seed production
Two insect biological control agents are available
Apply 2,4-D, glyphosate, dicamba, chlorsulfuron or imazapic to young, actively growing plants