Bur clover burr, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This burr contains the seed of the bur clover (Medicago polymorpha). The long hooked spi

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Bur clover burr, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This burr contains the seed of the bur clover (Medicago polymorpha). The long hooked spikes get caught on the wool or hair of passing animals, helping to disperse the seeds far from the parent plant. This mechanism was the inspiration for hooks and loops fasteners. Magnification: x5 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 2717px × 2598px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, biological, biology, botanical, botany, bur, bur-clover, burclover, burr, clover, coloured, cut, cut-, cut-outs, cutout, cutouts, dispersal, false-coloured, inspiration, medicago, nature, outs, part, parts, plant, plants, polymorpha, reproduction, reproductive, seed, sem, sharp, single, spike, spiked, spikes, spiky, spine, spined, spines, spiny, structure