574 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



^e- 



/, Floret of dandelion; 2, seed of 

 dandelion. Both enlarged. 



The balloon is attached to the top of the beak as an umbrella frame is 

 attached to the handle, except that the "ribs" are many and fluffy; while 

 the dandelion youngster, hanging below, has an overcoat armed with 

 grappling hooks, which enable it to cling fast when the balloon chances to 

 settle to the ground. 



Father Tabb says of the dandelion, 

 "With locks of gold today; tomorrow 

 silver gray; then blossom bald." But 

 not the least beautiful part of the dande- 

 lion is this blossom-bald head after all 

 the seeds are gone; it is like a mosaic, 

 with a pit at the center of each figure 

 where the seed was attached. There is 

 an interesting mechanism connected 

 with this receptacle. Before the seeds 

 are fully out this soon-to-be-bald head 

 is concave at the center, later it becomes 

 convex, and the mechanism of this move- 

 ment liberates the seeds which are em- 

 bedded in it. 



Each freshly opened corolla-tube is 

 full to overflowing with nectar, and much 



pollen is developed ; therefore, the dandelion has many kinds of insect 

 visitors. But perhaps the bee shows us best where the nectar is 

 found; she thrusts her tongue down into the little tubes below the 

 banners, working very rapidly from floret to floret. The dandelion 

 stigmas have a special provision for securing cross-pollenation; and if 

 that fails, to secure pollen from their own flower-family; and now the 

 savants have found that the pistils can also grow seeds without any pollen 

 from anywhere. It surely is a resourceful plant! 



The following are the tactics by which the dandelion conquers us and 

 takes possession of our lands: (a) It blossoms early in the spring and 

 until snow falls, producing seed for a long season, (b) It is broad- 

 minded as to its location, and flourishes on all sorts of soils, (c) It thrusts 

 its long tap-roots down into the soil, and thus gets moisture and food not 

 reached by other plants, (d) Its leaves spread out from the base, and 

 crowd and shade many neighboring plants out of existence, (e) It is on 

 good terms with many insects, and so has plenty of pollen carriers to 

 insure strong seeds ; it can also develop seeds from its own pollen, and as a 

 last resort it can develop seeds without any pollen, (f) It develops 

 almost numberless seeds, and the wind scatters them far and wide and 

 they thus take possession of new territory, (g) It forms vigorous leaf- 

 rosettes in the fall, and thus is able to begin growth early in the spring. 



LESSON CXLIII 

 THE DANDELION 



Leading thought The dandelions flourish despite our determined 

 efforts to exterminate them. Let us study the way in which they 

 conquer. 



Method The study should be made with the dandelions on the school 

 grounds. Questions should be given, a few at a time, and then let the 

 pupils consult the dandelions as to the answers. 



