Curious dandelion

[Robert_Brenchley]

I found this on the allotment; it's a cristate dandelion. Occasionally you find that the growing point develops into a line; the reason isn't known, but this is a good example of the result.

[Robert_Brenchley]

[Heldi]

But do you think they'll catch on ?  :D

There is a field on the way to my mum's. It's a piece of waste ground,in a couple of weeks it will be filled with masses of dandelions and I rather like it.  I also love to see them along the sides of the roads...makes them less drab.  Got loads in my allotment and since we now have a pet rabbit I guess some of them will have to stay! Will be looking for your type now Robert so I can sound knowledgeable!

My son is learning about plants as part of the key stage 2 - year 3,  at school. I'm hoping something has rubbed off on him so he can sound knowledgeable in the classroom.

[GREENWIZARD]

dandies are lovely little flowers........in the right place of course ;) ;D

[Palustris]

It is called fasciation from the Latin for a bundle of twigs (same source for Fascism curiously). It is usually caused by some damage to the growing point and is not persistant. nExt year the plant will produce normal flowers and seed from the flower does not produce such flowers either, since it is not genetic. Arn't you glad thoiugh that over 90% of dandelion seeds are infertile.

Oh and that by the way is not one dandelion flower it is hundreds packed into one head and the flowers are the pin head sized things in the middle!

[tim]

Well I never!!

[Heldi]

I'll be taking a closer look now.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Cristates aren't that uncommon; if you keep ypur eyes open you'll see them occasionally. There used to be a lane near where I lived in Cornwall where I saw the odd cristate thistle every year.

[tim]

And of course, we all know the origin of 'dandelion'?

[Palustris]

â€" ORIGIN French dent-de-lion ‘lion’s tooth’ (because of the jagged shape of the leaves).



OUP. Dictionary

[tim]

Didn't know. Got my version from No1 Daughter today.
Surprised she knew. 'Oh, I read books'!

[ruud]

Great rabbit food,every week my daughter brings them home from the allotment.I got vrid of them and the rabbits back home got a nice meal.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Great for bees too; they're bringing in great masses of orange-yellow dandelion pollen at the moment, and booming on it. They're very much stronger than they were this time last year, which promises well for the honey harvest.

[Heldi]

Went to the lotty today for a wee while...did nothing 'cept look at the dandelions...ROBERT !!!!  :D

[Dirkdigger]

My wife's tortoises staple diet, turns his nose up at lettuce. Dangle a dandelion  and its gone as fast as he can get it down his throat.
DD

[GREENWIZARD]

tell mrsdd i can send her plenty ;D

[telboy]

And don't forget the roots!
Ersatz coffee aka the war!