These were all over my pant leg during a walk today —

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.

Sandbur or Needle Grass – Sharp, pointy burrs that can even poke through socks.

If you were walking through tall grass or brush, it’s almost guaranteed you brushed against one of these sneaky plants.

🧺 How to Get Them Off

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