Enchanter's nightshade

[Hedera]

Yes, Jim. I took a flower apart to see when going through the key.
Close-up of flower.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

If you've got it in the garden you'll find lots of the seeds sticking to your socks or other low clothing.

This is an interesting point. As a young lad I noticed, via seeds stuck to my socks and trousers, that so many species of plants that grow on the woodland floor had seeds furnished with hooks and bristles. Which made me ask the question; why? I looked at the other methods of dispersal.

Wind-blown seeds are not ideal in the woodland where it is usually sheltered from the wind, equally seeds attractive to birds need the sun to ripen them, again not an ideal habitat for such plants.
But seeds with hooks and bristles are perfect in an environment full of furry mammals such as badgers, foxes, squirrels, mice and voles etc. for these seeds to stick to.

Yes, it makes sense if you're Dog's Mercury, Herb Bennet, Enchanter's Nightshade etc. to have such seeds.
Of course it's fine for Bluebells, Violets, Primroses, Wood Anemone not to have such seeds, as they flower before the leaves have formed on the trees above.

Yes, I remember being very pleased young lad to have worked that one out.
Happy Days.
Dorts.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Dorts

This is an interesting point. As a young lad I noticed, via seeds stuck to my socks and trousers, that so many species of plants that grow on the woodland floor had seeds furnished with hooks and bristles. Which made me ask the question; why? I looked at the other methods of dispersal.

Wind-blown seeds are not ideal in the woodland where it is usually sheltered from the wind, equally seeds attractive to birds need the sun to ripen them, again not an ideal habitat for such plants.
But seeds with hooks and bristles are perfect in an environment full of furry mammals such as badgers, foxes, squirrels, mice and voles etc. for these seeds to stick to.

Yes, it makes sense if you're Dog's Mercury, Herb Bennet, Enchanter's Nightshade etc. to have such seeds.
Of course it's fine for Bluebells, Violets, Primroses, Wood Anemone not to have such seeds, as they flower before the leaves have formed on the trees above.

The worst is piri-piri burr. On Lindisfarne it's established on the dunes and there are warnings not to take dogs there, as the build up of persistent burrs can be very distressing to them.

Jim

[Hedera]

Nature beats us to it - that Swedish chap "invented" Velcro from looking at burrs! I agree about NZ piri-piri - about the worst kind.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

The worst is piri-piri burr. On Lindisfarne it's established on the dunes and there are warnings not to take dogs there, as the build up of persistent burrs can be very distressing to them.

Jim

It's not just the dogs Jim. It can prove fatal to chicks of wader or tern chicks that get covered in them when the adults choose to nest close to this plant..

I noticed quite a lot of this plant not too far from Lindisfarne last year between Bamburgh + Seahouses.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Hedera

Nature beats us to it - that Swedish chap "invented" Velcro from looking at burrs!

I was always under the impression that it was invented by a woman!

Jim

[Hedera]

Sorry - no, he was Swiss!

[lilyrose]

Originally Posted by Hedera

I saw this growing in a crack in my patio: two flowering plants. I've never seen it before!

Yes, it is pretty, but as previously stated it can quickly take over your garden - I inherited it and spend ages each year pulling it up, but I can't get rid of it completely.