i 4 4 THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



THE DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale, Web.). 



The Dandelion can be found in flower from early spring to 

 late in the autumn. It grows in grassy ground and in waste 

 places, its excellent method of fruit dispersal enabling it to become 

 established in every suitable spot, where, being a perennial, it 

 persists for years if undisturbed. In studying this plant it is 

 well to bear in mind that we are dealing with a thoroughly 

 successful plant, and to try to trace the reasons for this success. 



A well grown plant in flower should be dug up. It needs 

 care to obtain a complete specimen, for the root extends to a 

 considerable depth, and is easily broken across in removing 

 the plant. This consists (Plate) of a short, brown, tap-root 

 from which finer lateral branches extend into the surrounding 

 soil. At the upper end of the root we pass to the short, thick 

 stem, which bears a rosette of green foliage leaves. Sometimes 

 the shoot has branched, and several rosettes of leaves are related 

 to the one root. The shoots do not rise above the level of the 

 soil, being pulled down against this by the contraction of the 

 main root. The wrinkling of the surface of the upper part of 

 the root is an indication of this contraction having taken place. 

 The inflorescences, which are commonly but inaccurately known 

 as the " flowers " of the Dandelion, spring from the axils of the 

 leaves. 



The stem is only indistinctly marked by the scars of the 

 foliage-leaves of former years. The present leaves arise close 

 together from a short region of the stem, and spread out on all 

 sides. Sometimes they are more or less pressed against the 

 surface of the ground. The summit of the shoot is a bud composed 

 of immature leaves. The foliage leaves consist of an expanded 

 whitish base, narrowing into a short leaf-stalk, which passes 

 as gradually into the leaf -blade. This has a well-marked midrib, 

 from which the thin flat blade extends on either side. Near 

 the tip the margin is entire, but lower down it is cut into lobes 

 by indentations which extend almost to the midrib. The lobes 

 are pointed, their points being directed backwards towards the 

 base of the leaf. The sloping margin of each tooth is cut into 

 smaller pointed projections. 



