Hackelia virginiana

Although stickseed flowers are tiny (1/8″), they have the usual complement of parts — a hairy green calyx with five long, narrow teeth that alternate with the petals; five rounded white (or light blue) petals (actually lobes of the corolla tube); five arching, scale-like structures surrounding the opening to the tube; five stamens largely hidden inside the corolla tube; and a four-lobed ovary with a short style, similarly hidden inside the corolla tube. The fruits are globular, less than 1/4″ across, densely covered with hooked prickles; they are purportedly the most difficult of such “sticktights” to remove from clothing.

Stickseed leaves near the bottom of the stem are up to 6″ long and 3.5″ across with 2″ petioles; they tend to be broadly oval and thin. Leaves in the upper parts of the plant tend to be more lance-shaped and lack petioles. All stem leaves are alternate, dark green on top with short, stiff hairs; the underside of the leaves is lighter green and has more profuse, longer hairs, especially along the veins.

Stickseed is a quite tall (2-4 feet) but skeletal plant (more stem than leaves) with tiny (1/8″ across) flowers; it prefers shaded woodlands. It is a biennial plant, so has a somewhat complicated life history. In it’s first year, stickseed produces only a rosette of basal leaves — stems and flowers are absent. In its second year it produces a slim stem with abundant white hairs which branches occasionally; the lower regions of the stem are ribbed. Stems, leaves, calyx, and flower pedicels are all quite hairy. Leaves in the upper parts of the plant tend to be more lance-shaped and lack petioles. All stem leaves are alternate, dark green on top with short, stiff hairs; the underside of the leaves is lighter green and has more profuse, longer hairs, especially along the veins. The fruits are globular, less than 1/4″ across, densely covered with hooked prickles; they are purportedly the most difficult of such “sticktights” to remove from clothing.