Family: Malvaceae
Common name: Burr bush, Diamond burbark, Bur bush, Burr weed, Paroquet bur, Chinese bur, Hibiscus burr, Triumfetta weed, Parakeet-bur, Kulutkulutan
Burr bush is a weed commonly found on roadsides and open areas in tropical and subtropical regions. They are quite sturdy and can tolerate drought, heavy rains, poor soil conditions, and low nutrition.
Plant characteristics
Burr bushes can reach a height of 1-1.2 meters with an erect, slender, branching stem that is covered with fine hairs. Multiple stems arise from the base of the plant, giving it a bushy appearance.
These plants can grow very quickly achieving full size, flowering and fruiting in a few months. Leaves of the Burr bush are very distinctive, with a rhomboid shape giving the plant its name.
These leaves are 3-7 cm in length and about the same width, lobed, with serrated edges. They are bright green and covered with thin, white hairs that can sometimes irritate the skin on contact.
Flowers of Burr bushes are small and yellow, with five distinctive petals. They are 1-2 cm in diameter with a dense cluster of stamens at the center. Fruits of Burr bushes are small, globular capsules covered with hooked spines called burrs.
Fruits are initially green, slowly turning dark green and then brown as they mature. These burrs can attach themselves to clothes or animal fur to get transported to new locations. Fruits are 3-4 mm in diameter, covered with spines that are about 1 mm long.
Gardening Tips
Burr bushes are tropical plants that grow in a range of soil and weather conditions. They prefer partial sunlight and are usually seen under the shade of big trees or shade-providing structures.
These plants need well-drained soil, but they are tolerant of drought as well as heavy rains. They can grow in a range of soil types, and are mostly pest-resistant, but young leaves of Burr bushes can be eaten by pests and worms.
Grazing animals usually leave Burr bushes alone because of their spiny fruits. These plants do not need watering or fertilization since they grow abundantly in the wild, germinating from seeds that lay dormant in the soil, awaiting optimum growing conditions.
Uses of Burr bushes
Traditionally, various parts of Burr bushes have been used in folk medicine to treat wounds and skin infections due to their antibacterial properties. Different parts of the plant have been used to treat internal ulcerations, dysentery, diarrhoea, cold, boils, and even leprosy.
A jute-like fibre is obtained from the stem. Tender leaves were eaten as famine food, and also used for making soups, salads, and stews.
Burr bushes grow and propagate quickly and are hence used for soil stabilization as well as erosion control.
Propagation is through seeds or stem cuttings.
Photographed at: Koonammavu, Kerala
