Cenchrus pauciflorus Benth. Field sandbur is annual in CA, but can be biennial or perennial elsewhere.
Plants provide good forage for livestock before burs develop.
However, bur spines are stiff and can injure the mouths of animals and the hands and feet of people working in infested crops, orchards, or vineyards. Field and longspine sandburs are similar and difficult to distinguish. Leaves folded in bud . Sheaths, ligules, and blades resemble those of mature plants. Ligules consist of a fringe of hairs , 0.5-1.5 mm long.