Burdock – a vegetable that inspired the invention of Velcro

The Metal Zipper

Velcro, a hook and loop fastener has rivaled the zipper in its ability to fasten two pieces of an item together. Where zippers cannot be used, strips of Velcro fasteners are used instead. Velcro fasteners are used everywhere, as fasteners for clothing, shoes, bags, toys, and school and office supplies. Its application seems endless. It’s even used in space shuttles. Such is the wide range of applications for this innocuous invention that was inspired by the seeds of a vegetable, the burdock. The vegetable is a native in the Old World, composed of Asia, Europe and Africa. 

What is a burdock?

Burdock

Burdock is a biennial root vegetable that is related to the artichoke. It has large, heart-shaped dark green leaves with wooly undersides. Seeds of the burdock are covered with burrs, which adhere to fabric and fur, facilitating the seed dispersal.  The long and slender taproot, which could grow to about one meter in length, is edible and figures in many Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines. It is crisp and has a mild sweet taste. In Japan, burdock is called gobō  while the Taiwanese and Koreans call it u-eong (u-ong). It is also popular in Portugal, Italy and Brazil, where it’s called garduna or bardana.