Hackelia patens / spotted stickseed

Adjectives: clonal, forest openings, nasty, native

Also known as: Johnston’s stickseed, spreading stickseed, beggar’s lice, sticktight, white candle, spreading forget-me-not

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Spotted stickseed is a perennial that grows from a branched caudex on sandy or gravelly soils, especially on the slopes of sagebrush steppes or in open forests. Although the fruits will stick to your clothes and your dog, the flowers are rather pretty. The range of spotted stickseed is pretty much Idaho with bits in the four states that border to the south and east. There is a small representation in Montana.

The leaves of spotted stickseed are a bit hairy, but otherwise several times longer than wide. They have one prominent vein and entire edges. The tip may be rounded or with a short point. The plants get up to about two feet tall.

Of course, the thing that will really catch your attention is the flowers. Spotted stickseed flowers are like small pieces of Delft porcelain – waxy looking – in clusters. White-white with pale blue lines around the centers. If you happen to know other stickseeds, these flowers are much bigger. Each has 5 petals that are fused into a tube making it appear that there is a hollow well in the middle of the flowers. The 5 stamens are also fused to the petals. These are all, by the way, characteristics of the borage family.

In addition to the flowers, the fruits will get your attention, but not because of their beauty. Spotted stickseed fruits are nutlets, less than 1/8 inch long. They have distinct prickles on one side and fewer, smaller ones on the other side. If you don’t notice them while you are in the field, you are sure to as soon as you get back in your car or living room. They may well be all over you and your dog.