Burrs may also be dispersed by water or as a contaminant in seed or hay, and have occasionally been found as a contaminant of imported birdseed. Young plants are quite palatable to stock, but older plants are not eaten. Some people develop dermatitis from handling the plants. The main problem in Australia is burr contamination of wool. The burrs are difficult to remove during processing, so buyers pay lower prices for contaminated fleeces.
Burrs also make stock unpleasant to handle.
Image Bathurst burr has conspicuous spines and burrs What to look for Bathurst burr is an erect, much-branched, bushy plant. It usually grows to about 45 cm high but may reach 1.2 metres. It is best recognised by the presence of three-pronged, straw coloured spines set in the angle between leaf stalk and stem. These spines are up to 25 mm long. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem.