Major Vegetable Matter Types

AWTA Ltd Categories are displayed as B, S, H ( or 1, 2, 3) in the left hand column of the auction catalogue.

AWEX ID Category is a mandatory field in the AWEX type description.

BARREL MEDIC

(medicago truncatula) B B

Also known as Clover Burr or Barrel Clover.

Barrel Medic is barrel shaped with 4 to 6 spined coils. The spines are thick and lie flat against the coils.

This burr is easily distinguished from Burr Medic and Cutleaf Medic by its hard, woody appearance.

BURR MEDIC

(medicago polymorpha) B B

Also known as Trefoil, Spiral Burr or Clover Burr.

The Burr Medic is a flat round seed-pod. It is typically about 4mm across but may be as small as 2mm or as large as 8mm. The pod consists of 2 to 3 spined coils, which enclose several light-brown kidney shaped seeds.

Burr Medic is very common in Australian wools and is one of the most troublesome types to processors. Not only do its protruding spines catch in the wool, making them difficult to remove, but also, if broken up during carding, its coils tend to unwind into thin ‘eyebrow’ shaped pieces which are even more difficult to remove and can persist into the finished product

CUTLEAF MEDIC

(medicago laciniata) B B

Also known as Barrel Medic, Clover Burr or Toothed Medic.

The Cutleaf Medic is barrel-shaped with 5 or 6 spined coils. The spines are shorter and stiffer than those of the more common Burr Medic.

Due to natural variations within types it is often difficult to distinguish between Cutleaf Medic and Burr Medic in wool. The name is derived from the plant (not the burr), as the plant has serrated leaves.

SMALL BURR MEDIC

( medicago minima) B B

Also known as Wooly Burr, Trefoil or Clover Burr.

The Small Burr Medic is similar in appearance to the common Burr Medic, although it can be distinguished by its tighter coils and thinner spines. The thin spines break off easily, but when present they give the burr a hairy, or woolly, appearance.

CALTROP

(tribulus spp) H E

Also known as Bindi, Cat’s Head.

Caltrop is a small hard seed casing. It is divided into 5 sections and each section has a sharp spine. In the example shown here, 4 spines have been broken off.

There are many other small, hard types resembling Caltrop and it is often difficult to identify them with any degree of certainty. In general, these types cause no problems during processing.

CARROT SEED

(tragus australianus) S E

Also know as Small Burr Grass or Marthaguy Burr.

Carrot seed is a small grass seed. It is divided into 2 parts which are pointed at the tip. Each part is covered with short, thick spines.

Because of its spines, Carrot Seed is difficult to remove during processing. In large numbers, it tends to form a mat of seed in the tips of the wool.

STORKSBILL

(erodium spp) S E

Also known as Corkscrew, Crowfoot or Wild Geranium.

Storksbill is a long, thin grass seed. Similar in appearance to Spear Grass, it has a covering of fine hairs and a single twisted awn. However, it is easily distinguished by its overall larger size and, in particular, its thicker awn.

Because Storksbill is generally thicker and stronger than Wire Grass and Spear Grass, it is more readily removed during processing.

DOCK

(rumex spp) S E

Also known as Clustered Dock, Swamp Dock, Red Dock or Sorrel.

Dock is a small seed which forms in clusters. The individual seeds break off and catch in the wool, often with their short stems remaining attached.

Dock is easily removed from wool during processing.

GALVANISED BURR

(bassia birchii) H E

Also known as Roly Poly, Bindy-eye or Stick.

Galvanised Burr is a hardened plant stem with spines protruding in clusters at intervals along its length. The stem resembles a small stick or twig and, apart from the spines, has a smooth surface.

SAFFRON THISTLE

(carthamus lanatus) S E

Also known as Thistle.

Saffron Thistle has a small, hard seed. It can be recognised by its flat, spreading bristles which are usually found intact. In wool, the seeds are often associated with the sharp spiked leaves which surround the seed pod.

It is common in wheat growing areas.

Saffron Thistle is easily removed from wool during processing.

SPINY BURR GRASS

(cenchrus incertus) S E

Also known as Bayonet Grass or Gentle Annie.

Spiny Burr Grass is a small seed-pod. It consists of 2 outer sections which are covered with long, stiff spines and are joined at the base to partly enclose a third central section. Each section contains one small seed.

Spiny Burr Grass is a less common type and does not cause problems during processing.

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER

(trifolium subterraneum) B E

Also known as Sub-Clover, Basket Burr or Barrel Burr.

Subterranean Clover has a small spherical seed-pod. It is typically about 4mm in diameter, but may be as small 2mm or as large as 8mm. The pod holds up to 5 smooth black seeds and is usually found intact.

Although Subterranean Clover is classified as Burr for testing purposes, its processing characteristics are not like those of the other Burr types. It tends to remain loose in the wool and is easily removed by carding. If damaged during processing, it breaks up into short pieces rather than unwinding into long ‘eyebrows’ like other Clover Burr and Medic types.

BARLEY GRASS

(hordeum leporinum) S S

Also known as Oats or Shive.

Barley Grass consist of 3 similar spikelets joined at a spoon-shaped tip. Each spikelet has 3 long, slender bristles that often break at some point along their length.

Barley Grass is one of the most common VM Types in Australian wool and is also one of the most troublesome to processors.

This seed penetrates deep into the fleece and sometimes through the skin, causing injury to the sheep.

SPEAR GRASS

(stipa spp) S S

Also known as Corkscrew Grass, Shive or Plains Grass.

Spear Grass is a long, thin grass seed. The head is covered with fine hairs and has fine barbs at the tip. It has a single awn, which is usually twisted for part of its length. The corkscrew effect enables this grass seed to penetrate deep into the fleece.

Because of its similarity, Spear Grass causes the same types of problems as Wire Grass during processing.

WILD OAT

(avena spp) S S

Also known as Black Oat or Shive.

Wild Oat is a hard, thick grass seed. It is covered with fine hairs and has a twisted awn protruding at an angle from its centre. The hairs and awn break off easily leaving a smooth seed.

WIRE GRASS

(aristida spp) S S

Also known as Shive, Spear Grass or Feathertop Wire Grass.

Wire Grass is a long, thin grass seed. The head has a narrow groove and very fine barbs at the tip. It can be identified by its 3 awns, which no other major type has. The awns may be twisted into a long column rather than being separate as in the examples shown here.

Wire Grass is one of the most troublesome VM Types to processors. Its long, slender awns easily break off and, because of their fineness, are very difficult to remove during processing.

NOOGOORA BURR

(xanthium occidentale) H N

Also known as Nog or Noogs.

Noogoora Burr has a hard, bean-shaped seed casing. Similar to Bathurst Burr in appearance, although longer, it can be identified by the 2 enlarged spines at its tip. Overall, its spines are stronger and more difficult to break off.

Noogoora Burr causes problems in processing, due to its hardness and size rather than causing any fibre loss. In carbonising, it is difficult to crush because it does not readily absorb acid like other vegetable matter. In carding, it can catch in the card teeth, blocking and sometimes damaging them.

RING BURR

(sida platycalyx) H N

Also known as Monkey’s Ring or Lifesaver Burr.

Ring Burr is a large distinctive seed-pod. It consists of many hard, flat segments joined to form a continuous ring. Each segment has several stiff spines and contains one small kidney-shaped seed.

Ring Burr is not a common type, being normally found in wool from certain areas of Queensland only. However, due to its hardness it causes problems similar to Noogoora Burr in carbonising.

BATHURST BURR

(xanthium spinosum) H T

Also known as Beans or Cockle Burr.

Bathurst Burr has a hard, bean-shaped seed casing. It is covered with numerous hooked spines, which are slender and break off easily once the burr is dry. The burr holds 2 long seeds.

The hooked spines strongly attach the Bathurst Burr to wool. However, the burr is easily removed during processing because the spines break off. In many cases these burrs float off in the scouring process.

BOGAN FLEA

(calotis hispidula) S F

Also known as New England Crusher or Marthaguy Burr.

Bogan Flea is a small flea-shaped seed. It has a woody appearance with several spreading awns.

Bogan Flea initially forms as a spherical cluster of many seeds, about 5mm in diameter. Once on the sheep the cluster usually breaks up causing dense matting of the wool.