What is it Wednesday archive: December 18, 2019

Can you identify what's in this photo?

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

 after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on
December 18, 2019

And the answer is....

This is the burr of the burdock plant. 

Burrs are seed pods which have tiny “hooks” that allow them to cling to animals and people that brush against them while passing by. By hitching a ride on passersby, the seeds get dispersed further away from the parent plant, allowing the plant to spread and survive in more places. Clever!

Burdock’s burrs have relatively large and visible hooks, which make them a nightmare for getting out of clothing, hair, and fur, but very effective at spreading their seeds. They were also the inspiration for the creation of velcro hook-and-loop closures – compare the two sometime! Nature’s clever designs often become inspiration for clever human designs.

For more on how LEEP can help you learn about the clever designs in nature and their functions, through school field trips, summer camp, Saturday safaris, and more, check out www.Lutherlyn.com/ee.

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!