Date: 9/23/26 8:28 am From: Russell Benedict <BenedictR...> Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Stickseed Trap
Thanks for the observation, Cathy. I once found a long-since-dead Gray Catbird stuck in stickseed. It made me wonder if that is how carnivorous plants get their start. Russ.
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219
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From: 'McMullen, Catherine M [NREM]' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...>
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 10:23 AM
To: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] Stickseed Trap
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Yesterday walking on the Clive Greenbelt Trail I came across a sight that startled me. There was a tiny bird flapping its wings, stuck in the fruits of a large, tall and dense patch of stickseed (Hackelia virginiana). I cupped my hand under the bird and picked it up. The bird was a blue-gray gnatcatcher… almost immediately it slipped out of my hand and flew over the patch of stickseed and away.
It was a magical moment holding this beautiful little bird so fleetingly in my hand and watching it fly away.
Back in 1994 in The Vascular Plants on Iowa Eilers and Roosa described stickseed’s habitat as “open woods and alluvium,” and as "common in the Paleozoic Plateau and east, and infrequent to frequent elsewhere.” Thirty-two years later stickseed seems to be everywhere, and especially abundant along woodland edges.
Although it is native, I would classify it as “native but opportunistic" (takes advantage of human disturbance). It is a biennial and easy to pull.
