Burweed
Triumfetta sp.
Along side a sunny path near farmland, Eldoret, Kenya. January 2012. Mark Hyde provided the generic identificaton.
What, I believe, is a second species of this same genus, Triumfetta:
LEAVES: The leaf texture is conspicuously reticulated between the veins.
As with many Tiliaceae there are three main veins and in this case many of the
leaves have three lobes. The margins are irregularly toothed.
HERB: The species shown here was mostly herbaceous, but the basal
portions might have been woody. The newer stems are reddish and have a thick
mat of branched, stellate hairs - magnifier needed to see.
FLOWERS: The flowers are yellow with five free petals and numerous
stamens; these are arranged into a vertical cluster around the pistil.
RANGE: There are many Triumfetta species and no doubt their
range is increased by movement of the seeds in the bur.
FRUIT: A small red to brownish sphere covered with numerous, short
projections; within are several seeds.
UNARMED: Small hooks at ends of small projections on fruit.