Yet Another Reason to Stay on Trails

by Tim Burris, Mariton Preserve Manager

You already know that staying on the trails and keeping pets leashed helps protect wildlife. You may not have thought about how keeping on the trail benefits you personally.

Fawn covered with Stickseed

Virginia Stickseed (Hackelia virginianna) also known as beggar’s lice is prolific right now and sticky.  As the seed heads mature and turn from green to brown they become harder to remove from clothing.  Look at this fawn covered with the green seed heads.  I know how she feels.  I was removing invasive plants from a fencerow this week and spent considerable time at the end of the day pulling seeds from my clothing.  Of course, I have opposable thumbs and fingers.  Getting these seeds out of your dog’s fur is just a pain.

Tick Trefoil Seeds

Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is another plant whose sticky seed is getting “ripe” for distribution.  This seed is flat and sticks close to the material.  I admit that I once threw out a shirt that was turned green by thousands on Tick Trefoil seeds.  I have found that a table knife or credit card works pretty good at scrapping these seeds off of jeans.  It makes it easier, but it is still a chore.  Do you really have to ask how these plants distribute their DNA to new locations?