Dandelions 47 
being each the developed and ripened seed-case 
’ 
or ‘‘ovary’’ of a fertilized floret, are fruits. 
The feathery balls of ripe dandelion fruits are 
frequently in requisition among children anxious 
‘to find out what time it is.’’ Hence it is, 
perhaps, that dandelions have been nicknamed 
‘* peasant’s-clocks’’ and ‘‘ blow-balls.’’ The shaven 
and shorn aspect of the remnant, after the winged 
fruits have departed, has suggested two other local 
English names for the flower, ‘‘ monk’s-head”’ 
and ‘‘ priest’s-crown.’’ 
The tip of each young fruit elongates into a 
slender beak, raising the tuft of hairs, which are 
laid together, side by side, like the ribs of a closed 
umbrella (Fig. 4, 7). But when the fruit is ripe the 
hairs bend downward and assume the position of 
the ribs of an open umbrella (Fig. 4, ¢). Thus the 
fruits become provided with a silken parachute 
apiece, and are ready to fly on the wings of the 
wind and sow themselves far and wide. They 
will not drop beside the parent plant into soil 
which has been drained of the substances which 
are particularly necessary and wholesome to dan- 
delions. They will emigrate, flying on gauzy wings 
to ‘‘ fresh woods and pastures new.”’ 
Each fruit, let us notice, is roughened with little 
