Burrs are seed pods covered in hooks, bristles, or Velcro-like spikes. These structures allow the seeds to stick to fur, feathers, and clothing — a clever evolutionary strategy known as epizoochory, which lets plants spread far beyond where they grow.
Common burr-producing plants include:
Stickseed (Forget-me-nots when dried)
Sandbur
Beggar ticks / beggar lice
Tick-trefoil (desmodium)
Despite the nickname “ticks,” many of these are not insects at all, just seeds shaped in misleading ways.
Why Do They Stick So Aggressively?
Burrs evolved miniature hooks or barbs that function like nature’s version of Velcro. In fact, the invention of real Velcro in the 1940s was inspired by a scientist examining burrs under a microscope.
Their clingy design helps seeds:
Travel long distances
Fall off later to germinate in a new area
What feels like a nuisance on your clothing is, biologically, a brilliant transportation system.
Are They Dangerous?
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