This is “Arctium lappa,” aka burdock. Originally from Eurasia, it is now an invasive species in North America — this beautiful specimen was flowering yesterday in the Shenandoah National Park, and July and August are typical months when the spiny bulbs blossom in lavender and purple. Although burdock root has long been used in cuisines — like Japanese tempura cooking and British burdock and dandelion tea — animal farmers have often found burdock annoying because the spines of the bulb end in miniature hooks, which stick like burrs to fur and are a pain to get out. (If you size up the photo you can see the hooks at the end of the spines).
However, these hooked burrs proved to be an important inspiration. In 1941, noticing the burdock burrs sticking to his dog’s fur, Swiss engineer George de Mestral got the brilliant idea of developing a fabric that would stick to things. Seeing potential uses in industry, he worked to develop this fabric and eventually named it “Velcro”, from a combination of the French words “velour” (velvet) and “crochet” (hook).
The Velcro brand “hook-and-loop” technology was used by NASA on the first lunar mission in 1969. It helped keep astronauts’ tools attached to their suits, anchored their feet in their boots, and was a part of the heat shields, as well as fulfilling other needs.
Source(s): @velcro.co.uk and wikipedia
