Ya know, guess what, the version in my photo, alive and standing in water here at home, is not the least bit scratchy, just fyi, and yet - same genus !
Just saying. (Boy, does it stink).
being that its more than one thing - every identifier is best. its the thing that sticks to a dog too. i don't have any that i know of in the area. but add all that stuff, and it really is related to velcro, a person noticed that the reason it stuck was because it had a barb with a hook on the end. and he was able to make that out of plastic and that's where velcro was born. though you can't say velcro - hook and loop tape i think is the generic name.
Rich - I was at the National Arboretum a few years back in Washington DC. I was on the way back to the car and walked right past it. By this time my feet and back were killing me after a visit of about four hours. I don't recall nor do I have a shot of the identification sign. Thanks everyone for your help! I will update the description and tags ASAP !
Actually Velcro was inspired from the cocklebur, a thistle is more like a cactus it will stick you but seldom clings, my guess is it is a bull thistle if the buds are as large as they appear.
