Through what do dandelions spread their seeds

How Dandelions ‘Decide’ to Spread Their Seeds

It’s based on how they measure humidity.

Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living. She holds a degree in English Literature and History from the University of Toronto.

Andy Roberts / Getty Images

Every kid loves dandelions. Blow on the puffy white head and seeds fly everywhere.

Dandelion seeds can travel for miles before finally floating down and settling somewhere new.

But without the help of children, the seeds still waft away and researchers recently discovered how the plants decide to spread.

Knowing what triggers dandelions to spread their seeds could help scientists learn how they deal with climate change.

Each seed is tethered to about 100 bristles and combined, those make a parachute-like top to help the seeds move. When the seeds come unattached from the head of the flower, the parachute bristles catch a ride on the wind, carrying the seeds away.

“We noticed that the dandelion parachute is closed in foggy mornings but then open again when the sun is up during the day,” study author Naomi Nakayama of the department of bioengineering at Imperial College London, tells Treehugger.

“We studied how the dandelion fly (and found a previously unknown mode of flight). And then we wanted to know how this reversible closure of the parachute affects the flight. After that, we couldn’t help looking into how exactly this morphing is controlled. (We are biomechanics researchers.)”

This hairy parachute closes when the air is humid, which often means the wind is weak. In drier, more windy conditions, dandelions widen their parachutes to better catch the wind so the seeds can fly freely.

“The dandelion uses a bundle of hairs (what the parachute-like structure really is) to enhance air drag and aid its flight. There are many small seeds that fly this way, so the dandelion is not that unique in this aspect, but it is certainly an iconic example,” says Nakayama.

“Unlike insects or birds, they don’t need any energy input to fly a long distance—even hundred of kilometers—they simply catch the wind.”

In their new research, scientists have found the “decisions” that the plants make when determining how to disperse their seeds.

How They Open and Close

Researchers uncovered the parachutes open and close using what they say is like an actuator, a device that converts energy and signals into motion. But this actuator doesn’t use any energy.

The middle of the dandelion’s parachute is able to sense the amount of humidity by absorbing water molecules in the air. Using signals about humidity information, they either open their parachutes and fly off or they close them and stay where they are.

“The center of the parachute changes its shape, moving the bristles altogether in unison,” Nakayama says. “It’s basically a sponge made of no-longer living plant cells, which are arranged in a tube with an empty cavity inside. The inner side and the outer side swell with water to different degrees, and that drives the movement.”

The results were published in the journal Nature Communications.

Climate Change and Soft Robots

Knowing what triggers dandelions to spread their seeds could help scientists learn how they deal with climate change. They say understanding the response could help researchers design new soft robots, which are those made from flexible materials that mimic soft bodies.

“How plants move their body parts are different from animals and a simple, localized expansion could be enough to move arms,” Nakayama says. “Movement of a few arms has been achieved, but this is the first of many arm actuators. It is simple in design, so there is a lot of scope for biomimicry.”

But understanding how dandelions work is also fascinating because of the key role the plant plays in the environment.

“The dandelion is the foundation of ecosystems. It feeds the insects and birds—bees feed on it more than any other species,” Nakayama says. “So, the environmental sensitivity of their flight is an important topic for us to understand how nature will change in the future climates.”

Dragon Raja The Brain Solutions and Answers

The Brain is just one of several Dragon Raja events where you get to test your wits and earn some rewards in the process. It isn’t unlike the Salon of Wisdom quiz, mixing questions about the game with others of common knowledge. While you still earn a certain amount of experience points and gold when you give a wrong answer, it’s best to make every question count and gain the most XP that you can at every opportunity. Here are a few Dragon Raja The Brain solutions to give you the upper hand.

Dragon Raja The Brain Solutions | Quiz Answers

Each session of The Brain is comprised of a short number of questions. It’s not unusual for you to stumble upon a topic focused on a Dragon Raja feature or character that you are yet to experience, so this is why it doesn’t hurt to take a peek at a guide for the best results. Besides, we hope that your geography understanding is good, because you’ll find some questions about rivers in the mix.

Here are a few The Brain answers to help you out, but feel free to help us build on this post by leaving your experience in the comments. Besides, most questions are reused in Salon of INT, so feel free to check our compilation as well.

Q: In China, the month of Chrysanthemum refers to…
A: September

Q: How do you receive Zone Gifts placed by your friends?
A: To their moments

Q: What should you do when self-proclaimed staff asked for your account?
A: Refuse

Q: How many times in a row can you perform Aerial Dash at full Endurance?
A: 3

Q: Which is one of Mai Sakatoku’s swords?
A: Snake-slayer

Q: How many Sigils can the player study?
A: 8

Q: What benefit will a pet get when it evolves?
A: All of the above

Q: When he gets into college, Finger Von Frings is…
A: Grade A

Q: What should you do when receiving harassing messages?
A: Add to blacklist

Q: Which is the longest river in Europe?
A: Volga

Q: Which writer was not French?
A: Heine

Q: Through what do dandelions spread their seeds?
A: Wind

Q: Which type of Stress-relief Orders do your teammates need to receive so that you can get Assisting rewards?
A: Defeating monsters

Q: What year was the Nobel price in literature awarded for the first time?
A: 1901

Q: How do you earn rewards more efficiently at EVA’s Assisted Training Center?
A: Team up

Q: Which is not a professor at Cassell College?
A: Koshi Uesugi

Q: Middens are historical remains of…
A: Domestic waste

Q: What is not shown in other players’ profile?
A: Zodiac Sign

Q: What is the maximum number of system mails you can receive?
A: 99

Q: In Norse mythology, Heimdallr was hailed as…
A: Guardian of Gods

Q: Which career action can get you diamonds?
A: Cooking & making products

Q: Where can you check your PvP points?
A: Profile

Q: What type of living things has the largest population in the ocean?
A: Plankton

Q: Which statement about Reserve HP is correct?
A: Restores HP slowly the instance you leave combat

Q: Which power does the Disciplinarian in a club have?
A: Ban from posting

Q: Which description of EVA’s Assisted Training Center is wrong?
A: Infinite rewards

Q: Which cheating code does Luminous use to bid for Seven Deadly Sins in the auction?
A: Show me the money

Q: How do you climb a wall while dashing?
A: Keep pushing the joystick while dashing

Q: Who wrote “A real poet suffers involuntarily as he himself burns and he burns others”?
A: Tolstoy

Q: What did Tagore win the Nobel Prize in Literature for?
A: Gitanjali

Q: Which power word can cut through all unauthorized living things in an area?
A: Judgment

Q: What item can unlock outfit color blocks?
A: Paint card

Q: The world smallest country is…
A: Vatican

Q: The world largest plain is…
A: Amazon plain

Q: Which waterway connect pacific and Indian ocean?
A: Strait of Malacca

Q: The world largest land-locked country is…
A: Kazakhstan

Q: Which is the largest island in Europe?
A: Great Britain

Q: The world’s largest coffee producer is…
A: Brazil

Q: The hydra dragon is passed down from…
A: Lich king

Q: Which type of Allies can convert their stats into the player’s stats?
A: All allies

Q: How do you initiate “Hug Me” when riding?
A: All of the above

Q: Which statement about the extra rewards that team leaders can get is correct?
A: All of the above

Q: What decides the rewards you gain when teaming up with other players in most daily events?
A: Player’s level

Q: Which power does the News Editor in a club have?
A: Write club status

Q: Which power does the Recruitment Director in a club have?
A: Create & post recruitment ads

Q: The novel “Madame Bovary” was written by…
A: Flaubert

Q: If someone told you the you’ve won a prize and needed your personal details, you should…
A: Not give them

Q: Who is the founder of Cassell College?
A: Anjou

Q: In the history of philosophy, who said “Man is the measure of all things”?
A: Protagoras

Q: Who is the prototype of poker Q?
A: Athena

Q: The world’s first postage stamp was made in…
A: Britain

Q: Who is dubbed as the ancestor of dragons and created the Four Lords?
A: Nidhogg

Q: How do you let an Ally assist you in battle?
A: Set as Main Battle Partner

Q: How many Allies can you set as Main Battle Partners?
A: 1

Q: Which panel allows you to access your mailbox?
A: Friends

Q: What is the maximum number of pets you can add to a Pet Squad to help you fight?
A: 2

Q: How do you appoint a new leader?
A: Tap “T” at the top right corner, then transfer

Q: In Greek mythology, she is called a banshee who turns into a stone when she looks at?
A: Medusa

Q: Blade Masters’ skill ‘Void’ is not effective in…
A: Dragon Hunt

Q: Where is the Statue of Liberty?
A: New York Harbor

Q: Which action may cause a pet to cast a skill in battle?
A: Deployment

Q: What colors can dogs see?
A: Black, white, gray

Q: The world’s largest landlocked state is…
A: Kazakhstan

Q: The southernmost country in the world is…
A: Argentina

Q: The Earth’s surface area is…
A: 510 million km2

Q: How do you increase Bond Points?
A: Team up and fight

Q: What is King Pele’s uniform number?
A: 10

Q: In Norse mythology, what price did Odin pay for drinking from the fountain of wisdom?
A: An eye

Q: How do you access the Team screen?
A: Tap “T” at the top right corner of the main screen

Q: What should you do when Petrified?
A: Tap QTE button

Q: Luminous gives 1/4 of his life to Ming-Z-Lu for the first time to…
A: Save NoNo

Q: Vitality can be used to
A: Send global message

Q: Which plant is dubbed as the “plant panda”?
A: Cathaya

Q: At Lv.60, what is the maximum number of gifts you can get from other players each day?
A: 20

Q: Which is not a feaure of the Gunslinger class?
A: Has 2 stances

Q: Which Shakespearean play is also known as “The Prince of Denmark”?
A: Hamlet

Q: Which was composed by Tchaikovsky?
A: Pathetique

Q: Which is not one of the Four Great Inventions of China?
A: Seismograph

Q: How do you start training at EVA’s Assisted Training Center?
A: Tap ‘Training’ to the right of your avatar

Thanks to Milena, MikaKu, Kanna, Matheus [GD], Meru, Manuel Martinelli, Anatlis, JJ Cahill, Kenny Zhuo, Yunnie, Narudianto, Magi for pitching in!

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How to Treat Dandelions in Your Yard

Dandelions –– they’re a nutritious snack for the salad enthusiast and a detested weed for the pristine lawn owner. If you don’t want yellow and white puffballs to overrun your green lawn, there are two options for how to treat dandelions in your yard. Either declare war with an herbicide or remove the plant manually.

What are dandelions?

Dandelions pop up in lawns throughout the U.S. and Canada, but they’re native to Europe and Asia. European settlers brought the plant to America for its medicinal properties.

The dandelion’s name comes from the French term “dent de lion,” which means “tooth of the lion.” The name is in reference to the flower’s deeply toothed leaves.

The dandelion’s bright yellow flower heads are 1 to 2 inches in diameter and contain as many as 200 hundred ray-shaped florets. The flower head grows on a hollow stalk that can range from 2 to 24 inches tall.

Dandelion leaves are hairless. The flower’s rosette base produces several flowering stems and leaves.

The dandelion flower eventually develops into a seed head. The seeds are attached to fluffy hairs known as pappus, which allow the wind to carry and spread the seed. You might recognize this stage of the dandelion as the white puffballs you once blew in the wind to make a wish as a child.

Where do dandelions grow?

The dandelion plant is a common broadleaf weed. It can survive many environments, including forests, gardens, wastelands, rocky hillsides, and your treasured green lawn. It prefers sunny conditions with fertile soil but can still overrun an area with poor soils and shade.

What problems do dandelions cause?

Not only do dandelions have a clever way to spread their fluffy seeds, but they’re challenging to exterminate. As soon as you finish shedding blood and tears removing an army of dandelions, they’re bound to crop up again.

Here are six reasons why dandelions are a nuisance in the yard:

1. Dandelions are difficult to remove

Dandelions have a secret weapon hidden in their arsenal: Their 6- to 18-inch long taproot.

If you attempt to remove the dandelion taproot by hand but leave some of the root behind, the weed will grow right back. For complete extermination, you need to remove the entire taproot.

And did we mention the dandelion is also a perennial weed? That means it will return year after year if you don’t remove it. Talk about a stubborn weed that won’t back down.

2. Dandelions aren’t easy to contain

Even if you manage to remove dandelions from your yard, there’s still one problem –– their seeds.

Dandelions have a clever mechanism for spreading their seeds across the yard. Not only are dandelion seeds attached to a fluffy substance that the wind can carry, but the white puffballs are so irresistible to pick and blow in the wind.

3. Dandelions can ruin your lawn’s aesthetic

After waiting patiently for your seeded lawn to mature or for your sod to take root, the last thing you want is to see white and yellow dots invading your yard. Shade or sun, dandelions will ruin your lawn’s beauty if you don’t act fast.

4. Dandelions compete with your lawn for water

Every plant needs water to survive (even that succulent you’ve been ignoring). When you water your lawn, dandelions are going to absorb some of the moisture you intended for your turfgrass to absorb. If a competing dandelion infestation is severe, your turf might not get enough water.

5. Dandelions can crowd out your grass

Dandelions often form dense mats of leaves that can crowd out neighboring plants and reduce their strength. As the dandelion continues to spread across the lawn year after year, it will push out your grass and seize your lawn.

6. Dandelions attract bees

Dandelions are a food source for bees in early spring.

Providing a food source for our busy pollinators is a good thing. But having that food source growing in the front yard might concern homeowners with bee allergies or small children playing outside.

How to get rid of dandelions

Ready to strike those dandelions with a vengeance? Your options are to either remove the weeds with an herbicide or remove them manually. If you’re going to remove the dandelions by hand, you’ll need a complete inventory of elbow grease.

Remove dandelions with herbicide

Applying a broadleaf herbicide, such as 2,4-D, dicamba, or MCPP, is an effective way to target the whole dandelion. The herbicide will destroy the taproot, which means the dandelion won’t return.

If the infestation is mild and dandelions grow in small patches, it’s better to perform a spot treatment instead of spraying the whole lawn. Focusing your application directly on the plant and in the weedier areas of the yard minimizes your exposure to toxic chemicals, protects nearby plants and helps save you money.

The best time to spray dandelions with herbicide is late October through early November. Here’s why: Weeds channel their nutrients down into their roots in autumn to prepare for the long winter ahead. When you spray the herbicide in the fall, the dandelions will send the herbicide down to the taproot along with the nutrients.

Spray herbicide under the right conditions:

Remember: Always read the product’s instructions before applying the herbicide. Otherwise, you risk harming your lawn or nearby plants.

Remove dandelions manually

If you don’t want to use chemical weed killer in your yard, another option is to remove dandelions manually.

But according to the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, hand-pulling or hoeing dandelions is usually futile unless done repeatedly over a long period. Why? Because of the dandelion root system. A dandelion’s taproot can reach up to 18 inches long, and you must remove the whole root if you don’t want the weed to return.

You’ll have the most success with manual dandelion control if you:

1. Can I use vinegar to remove dandelions?

Homemade dandelion removal recipes pepper the internet, and many of them call for pouring household vinegar over the lawn weed.

But according to the Oregon State University Extension Service, household vinegar is not strong enough to kill dandelions. Household vinegar is only 5% acetic acid.

On the other hand, horticultural vinegar is 20% acetic acid, and you can use it as weed control. But remember, horticultural vinegar’s high acetic acid content can injure you if you’re not careful.

The extension warns that vinegar only treats the leaves and doesn’t target the taproot, which means the dandelion will sprout back up.

2. How to prevent dandelions

Once you manage to rid your yard of the mighty dandelion, help keep the cunning weed off your lawn with these five prevention tips:

3. What are the benefits of dandelions?

Dandelions may be challenging to control, but some gardeners love to see these valuable flowers pop in their yards and gardens.

When European settlers brought dandelions to America, they prized the flower for its medicinal properties. The entire plant is edible, and people have alleviated ailments with the medicinal plant since Roman times.

WARNING: Avoid harvesting and eating dandelions that grow near the road or in areas where you’ve applied herbicides or other chemicals.

4. What herbicides will kill dandelions and not grass?

If you’re worried about harming your grass with chemicals, use broadleaf herbicides instead of non-selective herbicides. Broadleaf herbicides target the broadleaf weed without killing your grass.

A non-selective herbicide kills any plant it comes in contact with, regardless of whether or not it’s a weed. If you spray it across your lawn, you will kill your grass. Non-selective herbicide is effective when used for spot-treatments, such as killing a few dandelions growing along your walkway.

5. How do I get rid of dandelions while being pet safe?

The safest dandelion control method for your pets is manual removal because you aren’t exposing Fido or Ginger to any harmful chemicals. Many herbicides on the market are full of synthetic chemicals you don’t want your furry friends to roll around in.

Many natural and organic pet-safe herbicides are available for home lawns. But keep in mind that the terms’ organic’ and ‘natural’ don’t always guarantee pet safety. Talk to your veterinarian about the best herbicides on the market that are safest for your pet.

Win the war with the help of a pro

Dandelions show no mercy when it comes to seizing your lawn. You might rip out the taproot in revenge, but leaving behind as little as one inch is enough for the root to generate a new plant and strike back. And as soon as it looks like you’ll reclaim your land, the dandelion sprinkles its seeds before its demise.

Dandelions might make a nutritious snack, but they sure know how to put up a fight on the lawn. If you’re struggling to control a yard of dandelions, hire a local lawn care professional near you. Let a pro lead the charge so you can finally shout, ‘Good riddance”!

The Meaning and Symbolism of Dandelions

Canadian-born author and poet Heather Babcock once said, „Dandelions are just friendly little weeds who only want to be loved like flowers.“ And indeed, for many people Dandelions are just weeds, but we should not deny their importance in herbal industry. Aside from that, they hold various meanings and symbolism in different cultures all over the world.

What is the Meaning of Dandelion?

Dandelion is a common name for any member of the Taraxacum genus. The name is a corruption of the French “dent de lion”, which means “lion’s tooth”, referring to the plant’s jagged leaves.

Taraxacum is a large genus of more than 500 species of herbaceous perennials in the Asteraceae family, native to Eurasia. The genus name comes from the Greek words “taraxos”, which means “disorder” and “akos”, meaning “remedy”.

What Do Dandelions Symbolize?

Dandelion generally symbolizes happiness, joy and youthful thoughts, but can also symbolize health, power, perseverance, endurance and determination. It’s also said to represent the sun’s power, good wishes, hope and prosperity. More specifically, the yellow flowers resemble the sun, the white seeds resemble the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars. In the text below we are going to talk about each of these meanings.

First of all, Dandelions stand for happiness, joy and youthful thoughts, and they are mostly attributed to positive things.
We are always happy to see Dandelions in bloom as they usually bring a smile to our faces with their cheerful, bright yellow flowers. In many cultures they are seen as a symbol of youth and a harbinger of spring. The yellow flowers matures into white fluffy spheres that contain seeds to spread through the wind. When the seeds develop, they look like little puff balls and they are fun to blow apart. The white puff balls are equally fun to see and to play with. They provide positive experiences for many children who are amazed at how they turn into a whitish, fluffy crowns that are easily blown apart by the wind. The kids like to pick them and blow them just for fun. The flying seeds are awesome and make you feel free and happy!

Dandelion can also symbolize health and power.
For such a small flower, Dandelion has had a deservedly good reputation for centuries, primarily as a healing herb. Today, Dandelions are used in many traditional and modern herbal medical systems and are also used as a food source in much of the world. They have been used for detoxification, inflammation reduction, as a natural diuretic and antioxidant. The plant contains abundant amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, K, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, proteins, carbohydrates and beta carotene. It is effective in treating a wide variety of ailments and diseases so you can feel your best and regain your health.

Dandelion represents perseverance, endurance and determination.
It is a symbol of overcoming all the difficult challenges that life throws our way. Dandelions are very good at adapting to their environments. They are often resistant to many herbicides and grow in a variety of soil types. They are popular and spread all over the world, growing anywhere there is a pinch of soil.

Furthermore, it represents the sun’s power.
Dandelions represent the power of the rising sun and the ability to rise above life’s challenges. Their petals remind the rays of the sun as a source of life and warmth. The bright yellow flowers shine like the sun and warm our heart. Dandelions are sometimes associated with Belenus, the Celtic god of the sun. It is also believed that Apollo, the Greek god of the sun and medicine, had the Dandelion as one of his medicinal healing plants.

Is also symbolizes good wishes, hope and prosperity.
For most of us, Dandelions are flowers that remind us of our childhood and bring back memories of making wishes while blowing the seeds away in the wind. In areas in which the plant is actively growing it can often be seen that people, usually kids blow the dried seeds of the flower, sending them into the air like tiny helicopters. They do this to attract good fortune because it’s believed that blowing the seeds away brings good luck or grants a wish.

Superstitions About Dandelions

There are many superstitions and myths that are associated with Dandelions, and many of them have evolved into childhood tales. Here are some of the most common superstitions still believed by many today.

One traditional legend about the Dandelion states that the tallest Dandelion found by a child in the early spring will show how tall he or she would grow that year.

Another superstition states that if you can blow all the seeds with a single breath, then your wish will be granted and a good fortune will slide upon your shoulders.
It is also believed that if you can successfully blow every seed off the Dandelion in a single breath, the person you love will decide to love you back. If you fail to blow them all off in one attempt, the person you love will never be yours.
Another version of this superstition is that if you blow on a Dandelion’s seed head, the number of seeds left will tell you how many children you will have.

It is also said that if Dandelion is woven into a wedding bouquet, then it will bring good fortune for a newly married couple.

What is the Meaning of Dandelion Tattoo?

Flowers are certainly among the most popular tattoo motifs. Dandelion tattoos are not very common, but are very impressive looking tattoos. People are getting and wearing Dandelion tattoos on many areas of the body. They are not only appreciated by women, but men are also starting to recognize their beauty.

Dandelion tattoo seems like an interesting tattoo idea and it’s definitely a little mysterious. It is very unusual and rare, unlike the flower itself. It can be designed in various sizes, which allows it to be placed anywhere on the body. There are a variety of different Dandelion tattoos, but the most common is a Dandelion puff that diffuses its seeds in a soft flight through the air.

Dandelions are one of the world’s most recognised flowers and therefore have a variety of symbolic meanings. Whether they’re a golden yellow or a fluffy white, Dandelions represent childhood, innocence, happiness and joy. The beauty of this flower expresses optimism, hope and dreams that come true, as well as overcoming challenges in life with pure motivation and love. When combined with a flock of birds, this tattoo symbolizes dreams and goals you want to achieve in life. It is often worn by people to indicate their quest for joy and fulfillment of their wishes. It also symbolizes resilience, agility and tenacity, as Dandelions are one of the most versatile flowers you can find.

Dandelions Quotes

“I am born as the sun,
But then turn into the moon,
As my blonde hairs turn
Grayish-white and fall to
The ground,
Only to be buried again,
Then to be born again,
Into a thousand suns
And a thousand moons.

“Have you ever felt as if your dreams were more memorable, more alive, than what you knew to be reality? Have your dreams ever seemed so tangible as to make you question upon waking if you’d truly only dreamt them? Have they at times been addictive enough to consume your waking hours; blurring actuality and pretend together until your wishes and passions stare back at you with open eyes?

If only dreams could be reality, that beautiful garden of sweet-smelling roses we all long for. But reality for me is no such bed of roses. It is nothing but a field of unwanted dandelions.»

— From the thoughts of Annabelle Fancher”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher

“My fingers combed through my dark hair, short and straight, landing in choppy, uneven ends nearly level with my chin. The color reminded me of every evil character in any fairy tale. It seemed all were characteristically black; black hair, black eyes, black clothing, black demeanor, and black intent. I never thought I was truly a villainous character, not like I knew my father to be, but I was his offspring and devoid of any princess-like characteristics, so that left only the wicked side of the story to play.

In my dreams, though, I imagined myself more like Snow White―wavy, raven hair, a perfectly fair complexion, bathed in rose scents, and exhibiting a natural feminine grace that would dance musical circles around both Ginger and Elizabeth. No, I never hoped for such a thing to be real, but I dared to pretend it with perfect clarity in my dreams.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher