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| ## small burnet {#small-burnet .Title-Header}                         |
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| *Sanguisorba minor* Scop.                                             |
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| Plant Symbol = SAMI3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office & the National Plant Data
Center

### Alternative Names![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.6979166666666665in" height="4.0465277777777775in"}

This species is recognized as having the following subspecies occurring
in the U.S.: *Sanguisorba minor* ssp. *muricata*.

## Uses

*Grazing/rangeland*: Small burnet is noted to have well to excellent
forage value for livestock and wildlife during all seasons. It stays
green throughout the growing season and into winter until heavy snow
cover occurs, providing forage and seed to livestock and wildlife. It
provides excellent diversity to the seeded plant community.

*Erosion control/reclamation*: Small burnet is noted for value in mixes
for erosion control and beautification.

*Wildlife*: Small burnet is considered very desirable forage for elk,
deer, antelope and birds either as herbage or seed. Birds use the seed
in fall, winter and spring. It also provides cover for selected small
bird species. It provides diversity to the plant community.

*Ethnobotanic*: The leaves of small burnet can be added to salads, ice
drinks, vinegar, butter, and cream cheese to add a fresh, pleasant,
cucumber-like flavor.

## Status

This is an introduced plant. Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your
State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status,
such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

## Description

*General*: Rose Family (Rosaceae). *Sanguisorba minor* is an introduced,
hardy, herbaceous, relatively long-lived, evergreen, non-leguminous,
perennial forb. It is usually a branched caudex (thick base of stems)
with a prominent taproot and sometimes-weakly rhizomatous.

Small burnet plants have alternate pinnately compound leaves. Leaflets
are mostly 9 to 17, oval to oblong, 4 inches long and coarsely serrate.
Total height varies from 6 inches on droughty sites to approximately 25
inches on irrigated sites. The flowers are sessile and closely packed in
head-like to elongate spikes, which are 3 to 8 inches long. The flowers
are mostly imperfect, the lower ones staminate and the upper ones
pistillate with no petals and about 12 stamens, which are filiform.
Native burnet species have two to four stamens. The seed is an achene,
oblong, about 4 to 5 mm long, woody, papillate-warty, between and along
rather prominent ridges, which are four in number.

## Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site.

## Establishment

*Adaptation*: Small burnet does best on well-drained soils and infertile
to disturbed soils. It can be planted and will establish in 12 inches or
more rainfall areas, but generally does not persist below 14 inches. It
has excellent cold winter and drought tolerance. It tolerates weakly
saline to weakly acidic sites. Small burnet is not tolerant of poor
drainage, flooding or high water tables. It is usually used in open
areas, but will tolerate minor semi-shaded conditions. It is considered
fire resistant due to leaves and stems staying green with relatively
high moisture content during the fire season.

*Planting*: Small burnet should be seeded with a drill at a depth of 1/4
to 3/4 inch into a firm seedbed or broadcast using seed dribblers or
aerial applications. Small burnet is not recommended for single species
seedings. The full seeding rate (not recommended) for this forb is 20
pounds Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre or 20 PLS per square foot. When
used as a component of a mix, adjust to percent of mix desired. In most
cases a rate of 2 to 5 pounds per acre would be adequate in mixtures
with other species. For mined lands and other harsh critical areas,
double the seeding rate component of small burnet.

The best seeding results are obtained from seeding in late fall to very
early spring (because of grass component of mix) on heavy to medium
textured soils and in late fall on medium to light textured soils. Late
summer (August - mid September) seeding is not recommended unless site
is irrigated. Mulching, irrigation and weed control all benefit stand
establishment. Seedling vigor is excellent, but the plant establishes
slowly. Germination normally occurs the first growing season if adequate
moisture is available. Full flowering should not be expected until at
least the second growing season.

Stands may require weed control measures during establishment. Because
small burnet is a broadleaf, use of 2,4-D is not recommended. Mow weeds
at or prior to their bloom stage. Grasshoppers and other insects may
also damage new stands and pesticides may be needed.

## Management

Growth of small burnet begins in early spring and flowers appear in late
May through June. The plant establishes slowly and should not be grazed
until at least the second growing season. Small burnet plants have been
known to persist for more than 20 years on western rangelands. As with
other species, the life of the plant can be prolonged if it is permitted
to set seed on a rotational basis.

Weed control and removal of very competitive species may improve
establishment. Damage from wildlife and rodents may occur and they may
need to be controlled. Disease problems are minimal with small burnet.

*Seed Production*: Small burnet should be seeded in 30 inch rows at the
rate of 12 pounds PLS per acre to 42 inch rows at the rate of 10 pounds
PLS per acre (25 to 30 seeds per linear foot of row) to allow mechanical
weed control. It should be seeded in early spring (April - May).

Hand rouging within row and cultivation between rows may be required
after plants have reached 2 to 3 inches in height. Split applications of
nitrogen in spring and fall and application of phosphorus in fall will
enhance production following the establishment year. For optimum
production, do not stress plants for moisture during late bud stage,
pollination and re-growth.

Bees are very active in seed fields when plants are in full bloom and
therefore it is considered a good nectar producer.

Seed is generally harvested in mid to late August by direct combining
with platform set high enough to get most of the seed while leaving as
much green material as possible. Seed development occurs progressively
from the bottom of plant to the top and is mature when dry and seed is
hard and dark in color. Harvest when approximately 80 percent of seed
clusters are ripe. Seed shatter is not a serious problem with this
species. Seed should be allowed to dry to 12 to 15 percent moisture and
then stored in a cool dry area. Seed retains viability for several years
under these conditions.

Seed yields of 700 to 1000 pounds per acre can be expected under
irrigated conditions and 250 to 350 pounds per acre under dryland
conditions. Seed production under dryland conditions is not recommended
below 14 inches of average annual rainfall.

*Environmental Concerns*: Small burnet establishes and spreads
relatively quickly via seed distribution. Generally, it is not
considered \"weedy\" or an invasive species, but can spread into
adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental
conditions. There have been reports of it having invasive weedy
characteristics in Wyoming.

# Control

# Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Please read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named and other products may be equally effective. 

The following was provided by Holzworth (2000). Using 2 qt Roundup and 1
pt 2,4-D to kill seed fields can accomplish eradication and the fields
are also plowed under. Of course, this herbicide mixture would kill
desirable plants as well. Pam Hutchinson, Herbicide Specialist at
Aberdeen R & E Center, Aberdeen, Idaho, recommended the following to
control small burnet in a pasture situation: A tank mix of Escort,
Banvel, 2,4-D and a surfactant. The addition of 2,4-D may make the mix
hot enough to kill the burnet. Also suggested was a mix of Stinger
(0.5-1.5 pt) and 2,4-D (1-2 pt). This mix is labeled for knapweed.
Another suggestion was using Tordon, but only as a last resort. Specific
information should be obtained through your local agricultural extension
office.

## Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Foundation and registered seed is available through the appropriate
state Crop Improvement Association or commercial sources to grow
certified seed.

\'Delar\' small burnet is a selected release from seed originating from
European sources. The name \'Delar\' denotes pleasing or alluring after
the attractive green lush appearance of the plant. Aberdeen Plant
Materials Center developed the release for outstanding seed and forage
production, good cold tolerance, and palatability for both livestock and
wildlife. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University
of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station released it in 1981.

\'Delar\' is a hardy, relatively long-lived, evergreen, non-leguminous,
introduced, perennial forb from 6 inches tall on droughty sites to
approximately 25 inches tall on irrigated sites. It is well adapted to
sunny flatlands to open slopes, well-drained soils from moderately basic
to weakly acidic, 12 to 18 inch rainfall areas, at 1,000 to 6,000 feet
elevation. It will easily establish at the lower rainfall zones, but may
not persist below 14 inches. It is not tolerant of shade, poor drainage,
flooding, or high water tables. It does well seeded in mixtures with
other species. Its intended uses are erosion control, reclamation,
rangeland improvement, wildlife forage, and site diversity. Certified
seed is readily available through commercial sources and breeder seed is
maintained by Aberdeen Plant Materials Center.

Alternative native *Sanguisorba* species that might be considered
include the following: *Sanguisorba annua* (prairie burnet),
*Sanguisorba canadensis* (Canadian burnet), *Sanguisorba menziesii*
(Menzies' burnet), *Sanguisorba occidentalis* (western burnet), and
*Sanguisorba officinalis* (common burnet). Please check PLANTS for the
species that occur in your area. Contact your local Natural Resources
Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for
more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

## References

Holzworth, L. 2000. *Personal communication*. Plant Materials
Specialist. USDA, NRCS, Montana State Office, Bozeman, Montana.

USDA, NRCS 2000. *The PLANTS database*. Version: 000510.
\<http://plants.usda.gov\>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

## Prepared By

# *Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

# *J. Scott Peterson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

## Species Coordinator

# *Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

Edited 18jan01 jsp; 14feb03 ahv; 060817 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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