5<D The Dandelion. 



gather the leaves to cook. They are called greens. 

 I like them, and am glad when we have them for 

 dinner." 



" Did you ever think that when you have one 

 of these flowers in your hand, you have a whole 

 bouquet, many flowers in one?' 1 



" Yes," said Emma, " I have heard that people 

 call a flower that is made up of many flowers, a 

 compound flower." 



" Let us look at one of these little flowers. In 

 each I find petals, stamens, and pistil." 



" The golden flowers of the dandelion are shut 

 up every night," said Emma. " But in the morning 

 they are up much earlier than you or I, for they 

 open their eyes as soon as the sun is up." 



" The dandelion has a curious habit," said Jessie. 

 " When the sun is very hot, it closes to keep from 

 wilting. In this way, the green covering protects it 

 from the sun." 



" Did you ever make curls of the hollow stems ? " 

 asked Emma. " The curls are pretty, but the milk 

 in them tastes bitter. If we look at our hands after 

 gathering dandelions, we shall find that this bitter 

 milk has left dark stains." 



" Oh, yes ! " said Jessie, " and when the dandelions 

 have gone to seed, they look like white fluffy balls. 



