still life vase with pappus dandelion

The flower head of the dandelion consists only of yellow ribbon flowers. The pappus consists of hairs and can be considered a reduced calyx. The stem is hollow and has no leaves. The leaves are arranged together in a leaf rosette. They are deeply incised to sinuously toothed. When bruised, a white, milky liquid called dandelion milk flows from the plant.

The taproot can penetrate decimeters deep into the soil. When it breaks off or is cut off at some depth, the plant can recover and several rosettes can sprout from the broken off taproot.

The reproduction of dandelions is largely by apomixia, that is, the ovary can grow into a seed without the egg having been fertilized. The dandelion forms clones in this way. As a result, there are large groups of dandelions that differ little from each other genetically and morphologically and these are called microspecies. In the Netherlands at least 250 micro species have been found. In the systematics these microspecies are grouped together to form sections. In several floras sections are described instead of the microspecies. The dandelion can also reproduce by fertilization.

The fruit is a unisexual nut. Attached to the nut is the pedunculate pericarp (pappus). The pericarp is attached to a stalk (the rostrum), below which is the pyramid and the fruiting body. The latter has ribs and usually has spines at the top. The color of the fruiting body is an important determination criterion. The nuts with their fruit fluff are dispersed by the wind (anemochore).