stickseed

Stickseed is a common name applied to several plants in the Boraginaceae family, most notably Hackelia virginiana, and is also used for related species in Hackelia and sometimes Lappula. The name refers to the plant’s seeds, which develop hooked or barbed structures that readily cling to fur, clothing, or skin, helping dispersal by animals and people.

Hackelia virginiana, often called stickseed or beggar’s lice, is a herbaceous perennial native to much of eastern North America. It typically grows in woodlands and along forest edges. The plant bears rough, oval leaves on an upright stem and small white flowers arranged in loose clusters during mid to late summer. After flowering, it forms numerous small nutlets with burr-like projections that detach easily and attach to passing hosts.

Ecology and dispersal hinge on the seed burs. The hooked seeds enable local, often long-distance transport by animals, clothing, or fur, rather than by wind. This strategy helps the plant colonize new areas within suitable woodland habitats. Some species called stickseed can be creeping or biennial, and populations may vary by region and habitat.

Human interaction with stickseed is generally limited to the nuisance of the burs, which can cling to clothing or fur. There are no major agricultural or widespread medicinal uses associated with stickseed, though historic ethnobotanical references exist for certain Hackelia species.

In summary, stickseed describes plants known for their clingy seed burs, with Hackelia virginiana as a representative eastern North American species.