A tropical plant (Desmodium tortuosum) known for its sticky pods that cling to clothing and animal fur.
Named 'beggarweed' because its seeds were said to be so clingy they'd make even a poor person (beggar) stop and pick them off. English compound from 'beggar' + 'weed' (Old English 'weod').
Plants named after beggars usually have an annoying quality—beggarweed clings to you like a persistent beggar asking for help. Nature got creative with how things spread seeds!
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