Definition

Noun: 1. A North American plant: A spiny, herbaceous plant (Solanum rostratum) belonging to the nightshade family, characterized by prickly stems and leaves, and bearing yellow flowers arranged in a raceme (a type of flower cluster).

Usage Notes

• "Buffalo bur" is a common name for a specific species of wild plant. It is typically used in botanical, agricultural, or natural history contexts.
• It is often discussed as a weed that can be problematic in pastures and cultivated fields due to its prickly nature, which can deter grazing animals like buffalo (hence the name).
• The term refers to the entire plant, not just a part of it.

Examples

• The field was overrun with buffalo bur, its prickly stems making it difficult to walk through.
• Farmers consider buffalo bur a noxious weed because it competes with crops.
• The bright yellow flowers of the buffalo bur are arranged along a central stem.

Advanced Usage

• The plant is also known by the scientific name and other common names like "Kansas thistle" or "beaked nightshade."
• It is a historical note that this plant is a close relative of the domesticated potato and was studied by Charles Darwin.

Variants and Related Words

• Buffalo bur nightshade: A fuller common name emphasizing its family.
• : The formal botanical (Latin) name.

Synonyms

• Beaked nightshade
• Kansas thistle

Related Concepts

• Nightshade (Solanaceae): The plant family to which buffalo bur belongs, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco.
• Noxious weed: A legal classification for harmful, non-native plants that buffalo bur often falls under.
• Raceme: The specific type of elongated flower cluster characteristic of this plant.

Noun

1. North American nightshade with prickly foliage and racemose yellow flowers