''Lappula occidentalis'', also known as flatspine stickseed, flatspine sheepburr, western stickseed, ''Lappula redowskii'', or Redowski's stickseed, is a

biennial Biennial means (an event) lasting for two years or occurring every two years. The related term biennium is used in reference to a period of two years. In particular, it can refer to: * Biennial plant, a plant which blooms in its second year and th ...

forb A forb or phorb is an herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid (grass, sedge, or rush). The term is used in biology and in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands and understory. Typically these are dicots without woo ...

native to North America and parts of Europe and Asia. It belongs to the family ''

Boraginaceae Boraginaceae, the borage or forget-me-not family, includes about 2,000 species of shrubs, trees and herbs in 146, to 156 genera with a worldwide distribution. The APG IV system from 2016 classifies the Boraginaceae as single family of the order ...

.'' Variants include ''L. redowskii var. cupulata'' and ''L. redowskii var. redowskii'', which differ in fruit morphology from the type specimen.

Description

Lappula_redowskii_-_flatspine_stickseed_-_Flickr_-_Matt_Lavin

Flatspine stickseed is a flowering herb that reproduces by fruiting. The fruits are divided into four nutlets that have a single row of velcro-like prickles along their edges. The stem is erect, angled, covered in fine hairs that may be

appressed This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...

to spreading, 5 to 40 cm in height, and may be simple or branched in morphology. Leaves are simple, alternately arranged, with edges that are

entire Entire may refer to: * Entire function, a function that is holomorphic on the whole complex plane * Entire (animal), an indication that an animal is not neutered * Entire (botany) This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of ...

. Both basal and stem leaves are present. Basal leaves are mostly oblong with a rounded tip and tend to wither by flowering time. Leaves along the stem are narrowly lance-oblong and may reach 2 inches long while remaining up to about ¼ inch wide. Stem leaves may lie flat or become folded, are pointed at the tip while rounded at the base, appear stalkless, and diminish in size as they ascend the stem. The flowers of the flatspine sheepburr are blue to purple, radially symmetrical, and arranged in

racemes A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

that may extend from 2 to 8 inches as they mature. Each flower is approximately 1/8 inches in diameter, surrounded by five

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

, and is fused near the base. The flowers alternate with

bracts In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

along the stem. Bracts, sepals, stalks, and leaves are similarly covered in fine hairs that range from appressed to spreading.

Uses

Western stickseed was used by the Navajo for ceremonial, gynecological, and dermatological purposes.

Distribution

''Lappula occidentalis'' is native to North America and polar regions of Europe and Asia. It may be found in disturbed habitats such as roadsides and along railways. Due to the nature of the fruit of the flatspine stickseed, animals such as sheep may aid in the spread of the forb to habitats disturbed by livestock.

References

Plants described in 1901 Boraginoideae {{Improve categories, date=June 2023