Cocklebur

/ˈkɑkəlˌbɝ/ noun

Definition

A prickly seed pod or the plant that produces it, which clings to clothing and animal fur.

Etymology

From 'cockle' (a shell with ridges) + 'burr' (a prickly seed pod); the name references the ridged, burr-like appearance of the seed pod.

Kelly Says

Cockleburs are how plants trick animals into distributing their seeds—they stick to fur or wool so effectively that they've been found in archaeological digs attached to ancient textiles, proving this sticky strategy has worked for millennia.

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