The inspiration for Velcro

Apparently, the tiny hooks on the burrs of the Common Burdock plant provided the inspiration for the creation of Velcro!

"The hook-loop fastener was invented in 1948 by Swiss engineer, George de Mestral. The idea came to him after he took a close look at the Burdock seeds which kept sticking to his clothes and his dog's fur on their daily summer walks in the Alps. He examined their condition and saw the possibility of binding two materials reversibly in a simple fashion. He developed the hook and loop fastener and submitted his idea for patent in 1951. It was then granted in 1955. De Mestral named his invention "VELCRO" after the French words velours, meaning 'velvet', and crochet, or 'hook'. The uses and applications of the product are numerous. Today, the VELCRO mark is the subject of more than 300 trademark registrations in over 160 countries." From Wikipedia.