Teasel burrs

Burrs in rural Indiana

A burr is a seed or dry fruit in which the seeds bear hooks or teeth which attach themselves to fur or clothing of passing animals or people. The hooks or teeth can be irritants and very hard to get off of clothing, such as wool or cotton. It was the inspiration for Velcro.

Plants with burrs are found in many genera:

• Acaena - Piri-piri
• Agrimonia - Agrimony
• Ambrosia - Ragweed
• Arctium - Burdock
• Bidens - Burr marigold
• Circaea - Enchanter's Nightshades
• Galium aparine - Goosegrass
• Geum - Avens
• Hackelia - Stickseed
• Osmorhiza - Cicely

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bur.

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