Could there be anything more tenacious than the dandelion? It goes from a spiky yellow-haired child to a grey balding old soul in the course of a season. One of the first precursors of summer fun yet to come, it is maligned by many because of its ability to grow despite all odds. Case, in point...you have probably seen one growing up through the cracks of a sidewalk.
The dandelion is actually a member of the Sunflower family. It's origins are probably Eurasian, but it is now found in all 50 states and over 60 countries. The name comes from the French 'dent de lion' meaning lion's tooth, and refers to its jagged leaves. The dandelion offers a lesson in persistence. Sunlight and moist soil make it a happy camper in your lawn or garden. In Ohio you will find the flowers from April to May for the most part; but they can start as early as February and last until June. It is estimated that a single plant can produce 3,000 to 23,000 seeds.
Dandelions are perennials. In the fall they may seem to die out, but they will return the following spring. They actually have very long taproots that can grow up to 12" long. The roots will store food for the plant over the winter. The stems grow straight up and can reach heights of 12" as well. When mature, the hollow stems will secrete a milk-like juice if they are cut. Bright yellow flowers are 1-2" across, but soon turn into fluffy white seed heads, just right for making wishes.
The dandelion is also edible, and you can eat the greens and petals. Dandelion tea, coffee and wine are also inbibed. Only eat plants that have not been treated with fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides. Wash well before eating.
Every dandelion is actually home to hundreds of individual flowers grouped together. Dandelions can reproduce both sexually by being pollinated, and asexually. For this reason, every single seed emerging from a dandelion’s head can have a different genetic makeup.
The aerodynamics of a dandelion seed can also be explored. Research from the University of Edinborough has found that the flight of the dandelion seed has not been seen before in nature. One of the world's best flyers, air moves in and around the parachute-shaped bristles that are bundled together, enabling the seeds to fly great distances. This porous parachute might serve in the future as a model for small drones that do not require much power.
Following up on this study, scientists at EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) conducted experiments and then reported that " Our model calculated that the maximum number of bristles for stable flight is around 100, and surprisingly, that’s approximately how many bristles the seeds naturally contain.” This study of how mechanisms occur in nature is termed biomimetics.
In short, the dandelion is more than just a humble little weed.
