Western Nebraskan Plants Easily Seen At Cedar Point Biological Station

Recently at the University of Nebraska's Biological Station, Cedar Point, at the Station's 50th anniversary, I failed to take very many photos of buildings and people. Here are a few of the photos of plants I took, instead.

buffalo burr, Solanum rostratum

For example, buffalo burr (Solanum rostratum, tomato family Solanaceae). Native to North America, it gets its name from its presence in areas denuded of other plants by bison, and since then, by cattle.This big-flowered plant has impressive spines (look next to uppermost flower in the photo above). The burs will stick to animal hair, dispersing it.  It is also rich in alkaloids that deter insects. It is one of the American plants that has gone around the world as a weed. Okay, it is hated around the world, but it is nevertheless a plant success story. Look and don't touch.