Acaena echinata

Sheeps Burr at Holt, ACT

Acaena echinata at Holt, ACT - 13 Jul 2021
Acaena echinata at Holt, ACT - 13 Jul 2021
Acaena echinata at Holt, ACT - 13 Jul 2021
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Identification history

Acaena echinata 15 Jul 2021 Tapirlord
Acaena echinata 15 Jul 2021 Tapirlord
Unidentified 14 Jul 2021 sangio7

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8 comments

dcnicholls wrote:
   14 Jul 2021
Not a fern
sangio7 wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
Fair enough, I had my doubts but couldn't find any other category it seemed to fit either.
dcnicholls wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
It is a flowering plant, but I don’t know what category to use
sangio7 wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
Thanks. I'll keep an eye on it and see what it looks like if it flowers this season.
Tapirlord wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
It's a sheep's burr, in other wildflowers and herbs, :)
sangio7 wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
Thanks. In my quick flick through the OWFH field guide I guess I was in too much of a hurry to get through all 507 species to look closely enough at the first one! :-)
Also I didn't think it looked like it any of the sheep's burrs I'd seen before, though I've generally only seen them at a later stage with their burrs on (and cursed them). This specimen seems more prostrate as well.
I'm wondering how you differentiate between A. echinata and A. novae-zelandiae at this early stage of growth. Is there a way or will I have to wait until flowering time?
Tapirlord wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
The primary difference between A.echinata & A.novae-zelandiae (besides the flower and fruits) is that the leaves of the former are 9-15 foliate (Sometimes as high as 25), while the latter tend to be around 7-9 foliate. I also tend to find that A.novae-zelandiae tends to favour wetter sites while the other Acaenas in the region, echinata & Ovina are more variable and as a general rule more commonplace within suburban reserves (Although that is just an observation). Hope this helps :).
sangio7 wrote:
   15 Jul 2021
Thanks very much for that - it helps to know what to look for. I'll have a closer look at the leaves next time I'm passing (my photos could be better for that purpose) and also watch what happens come spring and summer. It is actually a fairly wet spot, at the bottom of a slope in a very wet year with a lot of surface and sub-surface flow, and is also quite sheltered under a shrub.

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

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Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawksbeard) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 25 Jul 2022 by sangio7
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Persicaria prostrata (Creeping Knotweed) at Holt, ACT - 25 Feb 2021 by pinnaCLE
Eleocharis pusilla (Small Spike-rush) at Holt, ACT - 20 Jan 2021 by JaneR
Schkuhria pinnata (Curious Weed, Dwarf Mexican Marigold) at Holt, ACT - 12 Jan 2021 by pinnaCLE
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Corcorax melanorhamphos (White-winged Chough) at Holt, ACT - 10 Aug 2020 by Alison Milton
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Symphyotrichum subulatum (Wild Aster, Bushy Starwort) at Dunlop, ACT - 3 May 2020 by JaneR
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Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher) at Dunlop, ACT - 2 Jan 2019 by Alison Milton
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by AlisonMilton
Chenonetta jubata (Australian Wood Duck) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by AlisonMilton
Platycercus eximius (Eastern Rosella) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Grallina cyanoleuca (Magpie-lark) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Coracina novaehollandiae (Black-faced Cuckooshrike) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Eurystomus orientalis (Dollarbird) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long-necked Turtle) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by AlisonMilton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Lepidoptera unclassified IMMATURE moth at The Pinnacle - 20 Dec 2018 by AlisonMilton
Calvatia sp. (a puffball ) at The Pinnacle - 20 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Dunlop, ACT - 20 Dec 2018 by AlisonMilton
Calomela vittata (Acacia leaf beetle) at Dunlop, ACT - 16 Sep 2018 by Harrisi
Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) at Dunlop, ACT - 27 Jul 2014 by Alison Milton

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 13 Jul 2021 09:47 AM Recorded on
  • sangio7 Recorded by

Additional information

  • 10cm to 30cm Plant height

Species information

  • Acaena echinata Scientific name
  • Sheeps Burr Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Non-Invasive
  • Up to 792.55m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • In flower

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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