Sure feels like it when you pull one out....
Cannot seem to find an extreme close-up picture on the web....
2006-11-01 03:42:19 · 1 answers · asked by nowyermessingwithasonofabitch 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Nice close-up shot of them on this page. From what I have seen, they are not barbed, but spined, as defined at second link:
"The seedheads are composed of spiny burs and are 3-14 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The burs, excluding the spines, are 4.1-6.3 mm wide and 5.3-8.0 mm long to the tip of the spikelets. The spines are of two kinds: 1) flattened spines that are spread over the body of the bur and 2) fine slender bristle-like spines that are situated in a ring at the base of the bur. "
However, many people on the web seem to "unscientifically" refer to them as barbed! Maybe it is that "bristle-like" spine that we are interpreting as barbed?
2006-11-01 05:56:29 · answer #1 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋