Can This Dandelion Really Tell the Time?

Can This Dandelion
Really Tell the Time?

Fluffy Seed Heads

Have you ever picked a fluffy, white
dandelion ‘clock’? Did you blow on it to
see how many blows it took for all the
seeds to fly away? So, can you tell the
time by blowing on the fluffy seed head
of a dandelion? No, you can’t, but
dandelions are still pretty amazing.

They are called dandelions because their leaves have
jagged edges that look a bit like lion’s teeth. In
French, ‘lion’s teeth’ is ‘dent de lion’.

DDiidd YYoouu KKnnooww??
TThhee ppoosshh sscciieennttiifificc nnaammee ffoorr aa ddaannddeelliioonn iiss
ttaarraaxxaaccuumm oofffificciinnaallee ((ttaarr--aaxx--aa--ccuumm ooffff--iisshh--iinn--aahh--llaayy))..

Tiny Parachutes

The seed head of a dandelion usually has between
150–200 tiny seeds on it.

Each seed has a stalk with fluffy strands at the
top of it. These fluffy strands are called the
pappus. The pappus acts like a tiny parachute for
the seed and helps it to fly through the air. Most
dandelion seeds land within 10 metres of their
parent plant, but sometimes they can travel over
one kilometre!

This method of spreading seeds is called wind dispersal. Why do you think
plants need to spread their seeds away from the parent plant?

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Germination

The dandelion seed lands on the ground. If it has enough soil, water, light
and warmth, it will germinate (jer-min-ay-t). Germinate means sprout into
a young plant.

• First, the seed absorbs water from the soil.

• Then, the seed develops a root that grows down into the soil to
find more water.

• Next, the seed develops a shoot that grows up towards the sun
to find light.

• Finally, the shoot grows leaves so that the dandelion can use
the sunlight to make its own food

The Parts of a Dandelion round seed head
flower
• The long root of a dandelion is called a
taproot. The taproot absorbs water and hollow stem
nutrients from the soil. It also holds the jagged leaves
plant firmly in the ground. long taproot

• The stem carries water and nutrients
from the roots to the leaves.

• The leaves use energy from the sun to
make food for the plant. This is called
photosynthesis (fow-tow-sin-tha-sis).

• The flower attracts insects and makes seeds.

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Useful Flowers

Dandelions have bright yellow flowers that
attract lots of flying insects like bees and
butterflies. The insects drink the sugary liquid
that is inside the flowers. As they drink,
pollen grains from the flower stick to the
insects, and they carry them from one plant
to another.

To make seeds, most flowering plants need to
receive pollen from another plant of the same
type. This is called pollination.

Dandelions are special because they can iinnsseeccttssvviissiittiinngg
make seeds with or without pollination. ddaannddeelliioonnflfloowweerrss

Life Cycle Diagram Final Fun Fact

germination Dandelion flowers are open
in the daytime, but they
seedling close up their petals at
night. So, although we can’t
seed tell the time by blowing on
a dandelion clock, you
wind dispersal young plant could say that dandelion
of seeds flowers can tell when it is
time to go to bed!
flower becomes plant with
seed head bud

adult plant GGooooddnniigghhtt,,flfloowweerr!!
with flower
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