141 



THE INDIANA WEED BCOK. 



or dandelion for greens. The tops and roots are grown there ex- 

 tensively for stock-food. 



The principal use of the root, however, is as a substitute for or 

 an adulterant of coffee and persons accustomed to its use main- 

 tain that a mixture of 2 or 3 parts of good coffee to one of ground 

 roasted chicory is superior to and more economical than coffee 

 alone. More than 15 million pounds of chicory root are annually 

 imported into the United States from Belgium and other European 

 countries for the sole purpose of adulterating ground coffees. 

 Where escaped as a weed the chicory can be controlled by deep 

 cutting or grubbing with hoe or spud and prevention of seeding in 

 gardens. 



109. TARAXACUM TARAXACUM L. Dandelion. Blowball. (P. I. 1.) 



A sternless herb producing a cluster or rosette of spreading basal 

 leaves from the midst of which the leafless flower-stalk springs; leaves 

 oblong or spoon-shaped in outline, deeply and irregularly lobed or cut- 

 toothed, hairy when young, 3-10 inches long. Heads golden yellow. 1-2 

 inches broad, containing 150-200 flowers. Achenes or seeds greenish- 

 brown, spindle-shaped, narrowed above into a slender beak which in age 

 supports a globular mass of white hair-like pappus. (Figs. 1, a ; 6, h; 105.) 



Very abundant everywhere in 

 grass-lands, as lawns, pastures, 

 meadows and along roadsides. In 

 flower practically every day in the 

 year that the weather is above the 

 freezing point, and when not in 

 flower getting ready to blossom. In 

 cities it is by far the worst weed 

 which persons desiring neat lawns 

 have to contend with. True, the 

 star-like golden flowers at times 

 shine forth from the green of blue- 

 grass lawn with beautiful effect, 

 but the aftermath in the shape of 

 unsightly flower stalks is not so 



Fig. 105. 1, two flower stalks, one showing the , 



head closed, with double involucre, the inner erect, pleasing. The time from flowering 

 the outer deflexed, the other the head open; 2, sin- ., ,. -. 



gle flower, showing reed, pappus, strap-shaped co- Until the dispersal 01 the SCeClS IS 

 rolla, and stamens united around the 2-parted style; ... . 



J, achene; 4, pitted receptacle with single fruit. 8 to 10 days. As the myriad Seeds 

 (After Strasburger.) 



are watted everywhere by means 



of the pappus it is almost a hopeless task to keep the weed in sub- 

 jection. Remedies: reseeding' or resodding; digging witli spud or 

 an especial tool made for the purpose ; in fields and gardens, thor- 

 ough cultivation. 



