Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 397 



COMMON DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) al- 

 though an immigrant to our land, has extended its 

 range from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and is as well, 

 or better, known as any other wild flower that we 

 have. As everyone knows, its green, jagged leaves 

 form a staple article of food and can be purchased 

 in markets in Spring at so much per peck. This spe- 

 cies, with its large, flat rosette of leaves and bright 

 sunny flowers needs no description; it is well shown 

 on the accompanying plate. All parts contain a bitter 

 milky juice that exudes freely whenever the plant is 

 broken. It is most interesting to children when the 

 flowers have gone to seed and are replaced by the 

 round fluffy heads. Many childish games and fan- 

 cies depend upon the number of seeds left in the "puff 

 ball" after a good strong "blow." The stems, slit 

 at the ends, make little horns and are also used for, 

 drinking purposes and for ''blowing soap bubbles." 



Those who try to keep a lawn in condition, regard 

 the dandelion as a great pest. Its persistence is 

 shown, when we may find the flowers sunnily smiling 

 at us, the day after the grass has been cut as close- 

 ly as possible with a mower. The dandelion blooms 

 most abundantly during the Spring months but may 

 also be found during every other month, even in Win- 

 ter. The name dandelion, of course, refers to the 

 jagged edge of the leaves. 



RED-SEEDED DANDELION (Taraxacum erythros- 

 permum) is a smaller species, also European, with 

 more deeply cut leaves, (pinnatifid), and with reddish- 

 brown seeds, whereas those of the preceding spec- 

 ies are usually olive-green. Common in dry fields 

 from Me. to Pa. and westward to the Mississippi. 



