Dandelion

Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale)

This is one of the best known plants in the world. It is a native of Europe, but now grows everywhere.

It is a yellow composite, with ray flowers only. The showy flower heads are over an inch across. They begin blooming early in the spring, and continue through the summer and fall.

As the seeds mature, the flower stalk elongates to lift the seed head higher above the ground. The seed head is shaped like a round fuzzy ball. Each seed is attached to a tiny fluffy "parachute" which is soon carried away by the wind.