Sticker (weed)

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A sticker is a weed that grows wild in the plains states. It gets its name from the seed of the plant, which has thorny spikes. When animals or people come into contact with the seed it will impale (stick) itself into the skin or hair, hence the name.

More than one variety of sticker exists, but there are two that are most common. The ?garden variety? sticker has only two thorns and is a smaller, softer, seed. The ?goathead? sticker is larger, harder, and contains three thorny spikes, hence the name.

Stickers are quite hard to eliminate. Concentrated effort has to be given each growing season to pull up existing sticker plants before they germinate. More than one season of this diligent effort is required, as seeds left in the ground from previous growing seasons may remain dormant for three or more years.

Stickers are quite painful as they often inject an allergen into the skin to encourage the bearer to remove them (thus planting them in a new location).

The best way to dispose of the pulled plants (and their seeds) is to burn them.


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