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Glite Dictionary
buffalo bur

buffalo bur

9.9
A plant with prickly stems and yellow flowers that grows in fields
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌf.ə.loʊ bɜr/
  • US
translation icon : burro de búfalo
  • She wore gloves while removing the buffalo bur from her garden to avoid the prickly stems.

Examples

  • The bright yellow flowers of the buffalo bur caught his attention during the hike.

  • The fields were overrun with buffalo bur, making it difficult for cattle to graze.

  • The buffalo bur is known for its prickly leaves.

  • Have you seen a buffalo bur before?

  • The bright yellow flowers of the buffalo bur bloomed beautifully in the spring garden.

  • Farmers often struggle with buffalo bur because its prickly leaves can damage livestock.

  • Many wildlife species are attracted to the seeds of the buffalo bur plant.

Synonyms

Solanum rostratum
vsbuffalo bur
  • Specialized
9.9

A prickly North American plant with yellow flowers called buffalobur

is the common name used in ordinary speech rather than the scientific form

Surface Forms

buffalo bur singular
buffalo burs plural

Morphology

buffalo + bur

The compound is compositional: 'buffalo' indicates association (or habitat/host) and 'bur' denotes a spiny seedpod, so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a prickly plant or seedpod associated with buffalo. This follows ordinary noun-compound naming patterns and the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Buffalo bur may come from the plant's small, prickly seed pods called burs that would 'stick' to the fur of wild buffalo. So, the name helps you remember it is a rough, spiky plant whose burs cling to animals.