sandburs
Prickly grass hitchhikers
Sandburs are the spiny seed pods of certain grasses, notorious for their sharp, hooked bristles that attach painfully to skin, clothing, and animal fur.
Found in sandy or disturbed soils throughout warm regions, they're the bane of barefoot walkers and pet owners alike.
I spent twenty minutes picking sandburs out of the dog's coat.
The plants spread aggressively precisely because their hitchhiking seeds travel so effectively.
Harmful creature or nag
sock · clothing · beach · picnic · playground · campsite · annoyance · hitchhiker
Hole from penetration
- prickPierce lightly with point
- stingSharp wound from insect
- embedFix within surrounding material
- irritationMild anger or inflammation
wound · tender · barefoot · removal · tweezers · sore · discomfort · lodged
Pest takeover situation
- spreadTo distribute widely
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
- displacementRemoval from usual location
eradication · control · management · non-native · introduced · aggressive · persistent · opportunistic
Column of vertebrae
- barbBackward-pointing spike
- prickleTiny sharp point
- bristleCoarse animal hair
- hookedDeeply dependent or bent
sharp · pointed · spikelet · needle-like · serrated · bract · armor · attachment
Open grassy flatland
Plant's reproductive casing
- stickerAdhesive-backed paper or plastic
- annualOccurring every year
- perennialRecurring each year
- grassNarrow-leaved ground cover
monocot · angiosperm · germination · pollination · spikelet · floret · awn · husk
pest
Harmful creature or nag
shoe · sock · clothing · beach · picnic · playground · campsite · annoyance · hitchhiker
puncture
Hole from penetration
irritation · wound · tender · barefoot · removal · tweezers · sore · discomfort · lodged · festering
infestation
Pest takeover situation
- spreadTo distribute widely
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
displacement · eradication · control · management · non-native · introduced · aggressive · persistent · opportunistic · herbicide
spine
Column of vertebrae
hooked · sharp · pointed · spikelet · needle-like · serrated · bract · armor · attachment
prairie
Open grassy flatland
coastal · dune · wasteland · field · lawn · trail · arid · grassland
seedpod
Plant's reproductive casing
grass · monocot · angiosperm · germination · pollination · spikelet · floret · awn · husk
sandbursmoss
Spore-bearing ground cover
soft grass · lamb's ear · pearlwort · Irish moss · flower petals
sandbursKentucky bluegrass
Cool-season lawn species
clover · lawn grass · bluegrass · Bermuda grass · manicured lawn
sandbursmoss
Spore-bearing ground cover
lamb's ear · soft grass · clover · cotton · dandelion fluff