XWoolbearing Dandelion (Taraxacum eriophorum)K
Click/Tap a thumbnail image to see its larger image with informational details.
-
Woolbearing Dandelion -or- Redseed Dandelion (Taraxacum eriophorum), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower)
The botanical definitions of characteristics of dandelions is not clear. This specimen seems to be most often named eriophorum. It's foliage is distinctly notched but some examples have almost no notching on the leaves. The bracts of the flower are smoothly joined about half the way up then separate into sharply edged 'fingers' with a base of downward curling 'fingers'.
The seeds of dandelions are efficiently dispersed on the wind thanks to tiny discs of radiating threads that act as 'parachutes'!
Flower -
Plant location: Bitterbrush Trail, a hike near Lyons Colorado, on May 12, 2009. Found in these United States: (AK, CO, ID, MT, WA, WY).Plant -
Bloom season: May through September.Foliage -
Bitterbrush Trail, Lyons Colorado - May 12, 2009
Disc macro -
-
Bitterbrush Trail, Lyons Colorado - May 12, 2009
The bracts of the flower are smoothly joined about half the way up then separate into sharply edged 'fingers' with a base of downward curling 'fingers' -
-
-
-
-
-
-