Itchy afternoon

The mower being back in operation, I got around to mowing some paths where the tractor doesn't go.

Since the tractor doesn't go there, these paths hadn't been mown in quite some time.  The grass was tall.  As were the blackberry vines, thistles, etc.

I got well and truly covered with plant detritus, some of it rather irritating.  An afternoon shower was called for.

At least we don't have Australian vegetation back there....

 

Digression:  What sort of evolutionary advantage does a plant gain from a feature that inflicts delayed irritation on a critter that touches it?  Seems like yer average herbivore wouldn't make the connection between pain now and having wandered through a particular sort of plant an hour or a day ago.  (This applies more to poison oak than to the likes of stinging nettles.)

Comments

[Rob]

Maybe it's not the plant but rather the person it touches? If a hay fever pill stops working on me I try a different type, it seems my body does change from time to time.