Flatspine stickseed
Lappula occidentalis
About the Plant
Flatspine stickseed, one of our earlier, native, annual spring wildflowers, lives up to its name. The small, spined fruit will stick to your socks, your pants, and your dog.
Flatspine stickseed has tiny white to pale blue flowers and an upright form, up to 2 feet, but usually shorter. Before it flowers and fruits, this stickseed is easily confused with wingnut cryptantha and common fiddleneck. The fruit forms as the flower stem elongates. The barbed spines make the plant easy to identify
Notes: You may see Lappula redowskii or Lappula redowski var. occidentalis used as the scientific name for this plant.
More Information
Map of distribution in US (as Lappula redowskii. Areas marked as pale green indicate the plant was brought into the area, it was not originally native.)
Technical botanical description from SEINet