Caltrop is a plant with thorns that adheres to clothing and fur.
A thistle is a plant with thorns that is part of the Zygophyllaceae family group. It is an annual herbaceous plant found in many regions of the world. The concept is formed with the terms “open” and “eye” , due to the care that those who mowed a field with thistles had to take to avoid injury.
General characteristics
Caltrops are considered harmful to crops . Furthermore, the fruits of these plants , with their thorns, can hurt livestock and people .
It is common for caltrops to adhere to animal hair and people's clothing . They can even puncture tires . This happens due to its characteristic large, toothed and rough leaves, and its thorny fruits.
The flowers of thistle are small and arranged in heads that form inflorescences, typical of the Asteraceae family. The flower heads contain separate female and male flowers . The fruits are achenes, which are small dry fruits that contain a single seed and are surrounded by a thorny structure that facilitates their dispersion.
Common caltrop is an adaptable plant that can grow in a variety of habitats , including fields , road verges, disturbed areas, and vacant land. It spreads by dispersing its fruits, which are distributed as the beings to which they attach move. It is important to note that it can be an invasive plant in some areas and compete with native species.
Defense or punishment weapon
A caltrop also makes it a defensive or punishing weapon or instrument. In the field of religion , disciplinarians used to place thistles in the whip to self-flagellate.
Caltrops are metal pieces with a star appearance, whose spikes can cause damage. Known as miguelitos in some Latin American countries, caltrops are usually distributed on the ground to hinder or prevent the progress of those traveling in vehicles .
There are cases of criminals who throw caltrops in the street with the aim that motorists step on them and are forced to stop , since their tires are punctured; It is there that the former take advantage of their vulnerability to attack them.
Velcro
In Argentina , meanwhile, Velcro is called abrojo. It is a fastening or closing mechanism that consists of two different fabrics, which, when contact is made, hook together. It is a versatile and practical invention, widely used throughout the world.
In more specific terms, caltrop is a system that consists of two strips of different materials: one with small hooks (rough part) and another with loops (soft part). When these two strips are pressed together, the former engage the latter, creating a strong and secure closure . Note that the word Velcro is a registered trademark, but is also used colloquially to refer to any similar system.
Velcro is known in Argentina as "abrojo."
The caltrop was invented in 1941 by Swiss engineer George de Mestral . The idea came to him after taking a walk in the countryside and noticing that burdock seeds were sticking to his dog's clothes and fur. De Mestral studied the structure of seeds and developed a similar system using synthetic materials. In 1955, he obtained the patent and began to market it.
There are various applications of caltrop in industry , thanks to its ease of use. We can find it in clothing and footwear, sports equipment (to hold gloves, wrist guards, knee pads or other sports equipment), industry and automotive (to secure objects in place), decoration and crafts (to mount objects on surfaces without damaging them). In healthcare, Velcro is used to attach bandages, splints, supports, and other medical devices.