DANDELIONS. 
11 
covering of green bracts, as they are called, closes up, 
too, and shuts them in all snug and safe. 
& When the dandelion has once closed 
V «^ it does not open again. But its 
% stem, which was very short, begins to 
lengthen. 
It is a hollow stem, as you know, 
and has a bitter, milky juice. 
Longer and longer grows the stem 
with the closed-up flower cluster at its 
top. But this wise stem does not 
stand up. Oh, no, indeed ! it lies 
down or leans over, concealed by the 
grass and weeds, unless it grows on a lawn. Then the 
wise stem does not lengthen much ; it is afraid of that 
lawn mower. 
If the dandelion is growing among tall grass, the 
