By Amy Weiss

Sep 26 2019

Some plants have evolved to literally hitchhike on passing animals. They have fruits with barbs, hooks, or hairs to catch on fur letting them travel to new places before falling off someplace new for their seeds to germinate. They don’t mind if that animal is instead wearing pants, socks, or hiking boots. The burs of burdock (Arctium, seen below) actually inspired the invention of the hook-and-loop fastener, Velcro.¹

Some low growing plants have evolved burs to be stepped on by animals and dispersed (Tribulus, Harpagophytum; seen below). These trample burs can be sharp enough to cause injury to livestock and pets, and can get stuck to a number of animals and objects, including vehicle and aircraft tires.² Sign these plants up for frequent flier miles.