These were all over my pant leg during a walk today — I have no idea how they got there. What are they

If you look closely, you’ll see that these seeds often have:

Tiny hooks or barbs (like velcro !)

Fine hairs that cling to fabric or fur

Sticky or resinous coatings that help them hold on

These clever adaptations help the seeds hitch a ride far from their parent plant. Once they fall off somewhere new, they have a fresh place to grow.

Nature’s version of free travel! 🌎

🌾 Common Hitchhiker Plants

Depending on where you live, these are some of the most common seed hitchhikers:

Beggar’s Lice (Tick Trefoil) – Small, flat, and velcro-like seeds that stick to everything.

Burdock – Large, round burrs with stiff hooks (these inspired the invention of Velcro!).

Goosegrass / Cleavers (“Sticky Willy”) – Soft, fuzzy, and sticky green seeds that cling easily.

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