sandbur or
bur grass, any species of the genus
Cenchrus of the family Gramineae (
grass family), sandy-soil plants of tropical and temperate regions. At maturity the sharp spines and burlike seeds make the plant a troublesome weed, especially to sheepgrowers. The name
sandbur is sometimes used for the buffalo bur and the horse nettle of the family Solanaceae (
nightshade family). The family Gramineae is classified in the division
Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, order Cyperales. The Solanaceae is in the class Magnoliopsida, order Polemoniales.
