Tuesday, December 8, 2015

V/Velcro

 Burdock seed heads

If you've ever brushed by one of these plants, you know how easily they attach themselves to your clothing. Swiss inventor George de Mestral noticed this too, reasoning that the same idea could be used to close articles of clothing. Voila! Velcro!

Closeup of burdock seed head

Here you can easily see the hooks on burdocks.

I am joining ABC Wednesday  HERE

42 comments:

William Kendall said...

Oh yes, these I know well for doing that!

Unknown said...

Indeed they do -)
Your photos are wonderful

Have a nice abc-day / - week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)

Berowne said...

Thanx for very useful info; well done.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Your pictures of these heads are stunning. So sharp and crisp.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

No way! Imagine that. They so say that most inventions come from a simple idea. Like you say EG you learn many an interesting fact through blogging :)

Andy said...

I have had many of these guys hitch a ride with me.

Sylvia K said...

Superb captures as always, EG, and what a different plant!! I've never seen one like it -- but then you find lots of those and I'm SO glad you share them with us!! Hope your week is off to a great start!! Enjoy!!

Revrunner said...

Ah, the wisdom of plants!

eileeninmd said...

I have had some of these hitchhikers stuck to my clothes. Your photos are lovely! Enjoy your day!

Reader Wil said...

How interesting! This was new to me, I didn't know who was the inventor of velcro.
Have a great week!
Wil, ABCWTeam

MadSnapper said...

my first ever viewing of live velcro. it is beautiful. i find that the prettier the plant the more it can harm.

photowannabe said...

What a perfect word for the letter V.
Some stickery plants sure act like velcro.

Lowell said...

I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but we have plants that do this. Had no idea the idea of velcro was related to this plant.

Trubes said...

Very interesting, it's funny how we take things for granted.
What an inventive man.
best wishes,
Di,
ABCW team.

Roger Owen Green said...

I was forever getting burdocks on my clothes as a kid!
ROG, ABCW

George said...

I had heard the story of the inspiration for velcro, but have never seen such wonderful, clear, photos of the seed head of this plant.

Anonymous said...

very interesting.

Bethany Carson said...

Oh wow, that's neat that they were what inspired velcro! I know I've had too many stuck to my clothes--and when our dog gets into them, that's no fun at all either! But they are deceivingly beautiful in your photos!

Photo Cache said...

What a very informative post. I learned something new and very important (to me) today. Thanks.

My ABC WEDNESDAY

cieldequimper said...

They are pretty though! Loooove the title!

Cloudia said...

Nature!






Warm ALOHA,
ComfortSpiral

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_('')

Hildred said...

Beautiful photo and the plant inspired such practicality.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

cool

Michelle said...

They are a pain, but you have some great shots!

RedPat said...

Wonderful shots!

Rose said...

These are super photos, EG!

The Furry Gnome said...

Neat pictures! Great clarity!

bj said...

What amazing photos...and glad to learn this bit of info....

Stephanie said...

These are lovely! And love that Mountain Bluebird shot!

Kay said...

Educational in addition to being beautiful shots. I can't say that I've ever encountered burdock. And I think I'm content to keep it that way.

ellen b. said...

Such beautiful photos!!

Linda W. said...

Interesting story about that plant.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Yes I know the plant but not the info. Thanks

Halcyon said...

I have experienced these plants before! They do look nice in pictures though.

Tom said...

They look pretty here!

Indrani said...

Amazing captures! I like how you visualized it.
Happy WW!

Darla said...

Wonderful shots. Imagine looking at that and thinking you could make velcro. So clever.

Kate said...

Lovely shades of green!

Powell River Books said...

I never knew that. Voila - new learning. - Margy

Unknown said...

Stunning shots!

Joy said...

Lovely detail in your photos, you can see how he got his idea. I always think of them as one of the tasty ingredient in dandelion and burdock pop, although I think that uses the root.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Great post. I had no idea how pretty burdock is. Also didn't know that was the plant that inspired velcro.
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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.