Re: burdock (arctium lappa)

February 27, 2005

Sharyn E. Cerniglia wrote:

> Is that true?!?!? That's so funny....

> Sharyn

For thousands of years, man has walked through fields of weeds and

arrived home with burrs stuck to his clothing. It’s amazing no one took

advantage of the problem until 1948. de Mestral, a Swiss

engineer, returned from a walk one day in 1948 and found some cockleburs

clinging to his cloth jacket. When de Mestral loosened them, he examined

one under his microscope. The principle was simple. The cocklebur is a

maze of thin strands with burrs (or hooks) on the ends that cling to

fabrics or animal fur. By the accident of the cockleburs sticking to his

jacket, de Mestral recognized the potential for a practical new

fastener. It took eight years to experiment, develop, and perfect the

invention, which consists of two strips of nylon fabric. One strip

contains thousands of small hooks. The other strip contains small loops.

When the two strips are pressed together, they form a strong bond.

VELCRO, the name de Mestral gave his product, is the brand most people

in the United States know. It is strong, easily separated, lightweight,

durable, and washable, comes in a variety of colors, and won’t jam.

--

Peace, love and light,

Don " Quai " Eitner

" Spirit sleeps in the mineral, breathes in the vegetable, dreams in the animal

and wakes in man. "

--

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