Buffalo Bur Nightshade (Solanum rostratum): yellow Minnesota wildflowers

Buffalo Bur Nightshade

Plant Info
Also known as:	Kansas Thistle
Scientific name:	Solanum rostratum
Family:	Potato (Solanaceae)
Life cycle:	annual
Origin:	Southwest U.S.
Habitat:	sun; dry, along roads, waste areas
Bloom season:	summer
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map

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Flower:: Flowers are in a raceme that grows up to 6 inches long; flowers bloom from the bottom up. Individual flowers are about 1 inch across with 5 bright yellow fused petals with crinkled or wavy edges. There are 5 tubular stamen and a long curved style in the center. The bract is spiny. One plant has a few to several racemes on its many branches.
Leaves and stem:: Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 5 inches wide, with irregular and deep rounded lobes. There are yellow spines along the major veins on both sides of the leaf, and on the leaf stem. The underside is hairy.
The main stem is covered in sharp yellow spines.
Fruit:: Fruit is a many-seeded berry encased in a spiny covering,
Notes:: This is one mean plant—every part of it is covered in sharp spines. It's kind of interesting to look at, but touch at your own risk! I've read different opinions of where this plant originates, but the consensus seems to be it is native to the U.S., but not to the Upper Midwest.