Lawn stickers driving me crazy! Lawn Burweed (Soliva sessilis)

One of the things that I was looking forward to for years was getting my own house, with a lawn, and being barefoot all the time. Well I finally got my house and lawn but it is impossible to walk outside barefoot without getting stickers in my feet I have no idea what plant is making these stickers so I don't even know where to start in eradicating them. They aren't the typical prickly sandburs that are usually found here in Florida. They are these tiny, flat circles, with an incredibly painful dagger sticking out of them (imagine a 2d pumpkin with a birthday hat on), about the size of a tomato seed, maybe slightly larger. Anyone have any idea what plant these come from and how I can go about getting rid of them?

We had two kinds of stickers in this yard when we moved in. One was a garden escapee that was easy to identify and pull. Within one growing season it was eradicated. The other was the common sand burr, which we will always have to watch for as it is carried from neighboring yards, but is contained enough for us to send barefoot children to play in our own yard.

If you can post a picture of the sticker it may help identify it. Without an identification, you might be able to make some temporary headway using the one we employed with the sand burrs. When you step upon one of the stickers, take an old terry cloth that is destined for rags and drag it vigorously across the lawn in that area. It should look like you're seriously scrubbing the dirt clean. This should capture the remaining stickers in the area so that you can dispose of them. Consider the terry cloth a sacrifice to the gods in lieu of blood shed.

Mark that area of the lawn and keep a close eye on all developing plants to see if you can identify any new stickers forming. If it is an annual, you may be lucky enough to end the cycle there. It a perennial, then you can locate your target and do some dedicated weeding. You really can weed stickers out a lawn, once you identify the plants.

Miranda Converse wrote:(imagine a 2d pumpkin with a birthday hat on)

I have no idea what they are, but props for having a great imagination

Todd Parr wrote:

Miranda Converse wrote:(imagine a 2d pumpkin with a birthday hat on)

I have no idea what they are, but props for having a great imagination

Haha thanks! I don't know why but that was the first two things that came to mind that fit those shapes. Who knows how my brain works sometimes...


I will try to get a picture the next time one assaults me. I compromise the bare feet thing by wearing the next best thing; flip flops. Every once in a while though my flip flops betray me and flip one of those stickers right under my toes. Of course it usually happens when I'm running somewhere in a hurry (like when I need to stop my suicidal goats from eating the chicken feed) and they stop me in my tracks. Maybe I'll tip toe around outside tonight without my flip flops on and see if I can find any. I'll take some pictures of the surrounding plants as well...

They aren't goat heads right? Goat heads usually look like, well, goat heads, but I found a picture that looks a little like you described.

Todd Parr wrote:They aren't goat heads right? Goat heads usually look like, well, goat heads, but I found a picture that looks a little like you described.

No, they only ever have one spike and they are flat, even the spike. Almost like a pepper seed with a spike. That probably would have been a better description than a 2d pumpkin with a party hat lol

Miranda Converse wrote:

Todd Parr wrote:They aren't goat heads right? Goat heads usually look like, well, goat heads, but I found a picture that looks a little like you described.

No, they only ever have one spike and they are flat, even the spike. Almost like a pepper seed with a spike. That probably would have been a better description than a 2d pumpkin with a party hat lol

I prefer the pumpkin one

I got a picture. I pulled it out of my flip flop so who knows where it got picked up at...

I have these! My little Yorkie can’t even walk in my 1/2 acre place for those dog gone things! Did you ever find out what they were called and how to get rid of them? Thanks
Vanese M

Presumably they're seeds.  Try sticking one in a pot and see what germinates.

Those are the seeds from the Lawn Burweed (Soliva sessilis) plant.

You might try using pickling vinegar (10%?) to kill it.

If that doesn't work you can try using a propane torch to burn if off.

Pull it up before it goes to seed or after it seeds place in a ziplock bag and dispose of it where it cannot escape.