FOOD FOR PLANTS 
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which to fight. First, it has a long strong root 
which goes so deep into the ground that the 
frost cannot hurt it. It is too deep for rabbits 
and moles to chew, and too strong for insects 
to bother. It has a circle of strong green leaves. 
These are arranged in a rosette so that they get 
the most possible sunlight. Notice how the 
dandelion leaves lie flat and are arranged so that 
none of them shades any other. The leaves are 
so close to the ground that no plant can get 
underneath and steal food from the soil. They 
make it so dark under them that any grass 
which was there before has to die for lack of 
sunshine. If the rosette of leaves begins to get 
too tall, the root pulls it down closer to the 
earth. The flower stem is hollow. Engineers 
know that a hollow tube is much stronger in 
many ways than a solid one. Hollow steel tubes 
are used in many places where lightness and 
strength are needed. The dandelion stem is so 
light and yielding that it may be bent way over 
without hurting it. Yet it is so strong that the 
hardest wind storm will not break it. Finally, 
The dandelion 
has many 
weapons 
1 1 
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