THE STUDY OF THE DANDELION. 1 



scape, composite, with an involucre of (usually^) three 

 rows of imbricated linear green bracts, the inner longer 

 row erect, the outer rows reflexed. Individual flowers 

 arranged in a close head. Parts epigynous, borne on a 

 short beak. Calyx a pappus of many fine white hairs. 

 Corolla yellow, strap-shaped, with five teeth. Stamens 

 five, epipetalous, syngenesious. Pistil one, with one- 

 celled, one-seeded ovary (forming in fruit an akene), with 

 a long style, two-cleft. 



In the dandelion fruit, or matured flower, the stems 

 usually grow much longer, and the hundreds of little 

 seeds become loosened, ready to be detached from the 

 little pits or pores in the enlarged end of the stem. 

 Each seed (see frontispiece, Fig. D) is somewhat egg- 

 shaped, but flattened, has about its upper half a num- 

 ber of minute teeth pointing upward, and bears at its 

 upper end a long hairy stem which separates into many 

 spreading hairs. When spread out the stem and its 

 parts somewhat resemble the handle and ribs of an open 

 umbrella, with the seed fastened at the lower end of the 

 handle. The hairy balls, or fruit, of the dandelion (see 

 frontispiece, Fig. A, 4) may be described as spherical, 

 open, hairy clusters. 



We have studied and described the dandelion as a 

 form or structure, and no more. Our description thus 

 far might apply as well to a dandelion fashioned out of 

 clay or glass as to the weeds which struggle in our yards 

 and thrive by our roadsides, and smile back at the sun. 

 We have not said a word, or apparently had a thought, 

 about its life, that which distinguishes the real dan- 



