Animal, vegetable or....? Can you help with id

[Bruce Williams]

Pic taken at Salcey Forest on 1st January. The unknown is the small spiny object at left of centre. I'm pretty sure it's something quite different to the Hedgehog slug in my earlier posting.

Help with identification appreciated.

Bruce

[Bruce Williams]

Please note: the orange fungus is NOT the unidentified object - Bruce

[Deer Stalker]

Might be a plant seed?

[Dan Salter]

Its the seed of something like goosegrass ( cleavers ) or any of those plants that rely on animal fur/feet /human dispersal...

[tufftie]

I'd go with a goosegrass seed too.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I've Googled goosegrass and certainly can see the close resemblance. The arrangement of slightly hooked spines would absolutely fit the "seed dispersal" theory.

What initially surprised me (until I gave it some thought) was the fact that I found it on 1st January - but then I realised that plant seed have to somehow make it through the winter to whatever point in the year it germinates and grows.

Bruce

[Kayleigh]

I go with goosegrass my dog come home covered in these.

[godaddyrab]

Hi, I am new here .. my first post ..
weren't those things the inspiration for velcro?

[Dan Salter]

Yes i believe so...or a seed very similar.

[Paul mabbott]

Could you give us an idea of the size - in comparison to the moss it looks rather small for a big plant seed .... ?

[Bruce Williams]

Thank you all for your input .

Paul - I would estimate the "seed" to have a diameter of ~2-3mm. Maybe this full frame image might give you a better idea of it's size relative to the moss:



Bruce

[Jez]

Goosegrass is a member of the bedstraws (Gallium). Ladys bedstraw and Hedge both have smooth fruits but cleavers (a favourite food of Geese) the fruit has hooked spines just like the one in the pic and being that its only a few mm i'm most certain it's what we're looking at!

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Jez. I've just done a Google (Image) search on "cleavers" and there's a couple of pics of cleaver seed which IMO confirm your opinion. See:

Notice the same hooked spines
dkimages - discover - plants - Galium aparine (Goosegrass, Cleavers, Sticky Willie)

scroll page to find pics
Cleavers" Farmnote 87/1996

Bruce

[Dan Salter]

I said it first !

[Bruce Williams]

...and I had not forgotten or overlooked that fact Dan. The mistake was mine in not Googling on cleavers when you mentioned the name in your initial posting.

Bruce