TAKAXACUM. 145 



THE FLOWER REGION. The inflorescence is also radical. 

 From the crown of the root several naked, hollow scapes 

 arise, each bearing an involucrate head of flowers analogous 

 to, yet strikingly different from, those of Antennaria or 

 Erigeron. In the former, the heads are discoid, being wholly 

 destitute of rays or ligulate corollas ; in the latter radiate, 

 having the outer row of florets ligulate. In Dandelion they 

 are radiant with all the florets ligulate. 



The Involucre is said to be double, consisting of 2 rows 

 of scales, the outer ones shorter and reflexed, the inner, linear 

 and erect. The receptacle (3) is quite naked of chaff.* 



The Florets are all fertile and perfect each consisting 



(1) of an oblong ovary crowned with a yellow, ligulate corolla 

 and a pappus of soft white bristles. The ligule is 5-toothed, 

 indicating 5 united petals. The 5 anthers form a tube inclos- 

 ing the style, which divides at the top in 2 spreading or rev- 

 olute stigmas. The anther tube is represented in the cut 



(2) as if unrolled, f 



The Fruit. After flowering, the involucre closes upon 

 the withering corollas while the fruit is growing. The tips 

 of the ovaries grow into slender beaks raising the pappus, 

 while the scape lengthens, elevating the whole head. At 

 length, when all is ripe, the involucre again opens, the pap- 

 pus expands into an airy balloon, and soon the cypselas 

 (4 and 5), thus admirably fledged, are borne away on the 

 wind and scattered far and wide. But this is not the end of 



* In Sunflower, Coriopsis, and other plants of this Order, the receptacle bears with 

 each floret a bractlet (called a pale or chaff). Hence " receptacle chaffy " is the coun- 

 terpart of " receptacle naked." 



t In fair weather the florets are expanded and very conspicuous to insects. In rain 

 and by night they are closed, protecting the nectar from waste. The nectar is abun- 

 dant, rising high in the tubes of the florets and accessible to numerous insects. Muller 

 observed the visits of 93 species. It is scarcely possible that the stigmas should 

 escape pollenization in this way ; but to make sure of it, they continue to recoil until 

 they reach the pollen for themselves. " The brightness of its color, the quantity of 

 its honey, the habit of closing in unfavorable weather, and the power of self-fertili- 

 zation, go far to explain the great abundance of the Dandelion. 1 ' -Sir J. Lubbock. 



