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This would be easy if the dandelions kept together in patches. But they seem to say “catch me if you can” as they fly on the wings of the wind, dropping down here, there, and everywhere, striking root and merrily growing.
White-headed dandelions.
The parent dandelion takes very good care of its seed children, and plans for their future success by giving each one a little plume by which it can be blown about by the wind.
Everybody knows the pretty, fluffy, white-headed dandelions that come after the yellow flowers.
Seed case and plume
magnified.
Children often blow on them “to see what time it is.” If all the seeds fly away but one, they say it is one o’clock; if two remain, they say it is two o’clock, and so on.
They also blow on them to see if “mother wants me,” as every child knows.
Each little silky part that flies away is a seed case and its plume.
If you look carefully at the part of the dandelion that flies about, you will see the little brown seed case at one end, shaped something like a tiny cucumber, and with little teeth near its top.