About Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze
Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze has several common names, including Paraguayan starburr, ihi kukae hipa, Paraguay bur, Paraguay starbur, pipili, sheepbur, and spiny-bur. It is a South American species of herbaceous plant that was first formally described as a species in 1758. This species is native to multiple countries across South America: Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Colombia. It is also native to parts of the Caribbean, specifically Grenada, Martinique, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. Acanthospermum australe has been introduced to China, and it is an invasive species in parts of the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Today it is a widespread pioneer species across the tropics and sub-tropics.