Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Common Salsify

Here you can see the seed head where the achenes are seated. When the seeds are ripe, the seed head will stretch downwards, loosening the hold of the achenes and allowing them to be carried away by the wind. If you would like to see a microscopic view of dandilions and the achenes, seeds, and more, please visit this wonderful and fascinating page! A Close-up View of the Wildflower "Dandelion"

These glowing, golden parachutes (pappus) are specially modified parts of a flower called "sepals." They are able to catch the lightest breeze and lift up into the air, carrying the seed as far as a mile or more away from the parent plant! No wonder we find dandilions (and goatsbeard) everywhere! :D Explored on June 28. Highest position, page 2 (#50).

Here you can see the stalk of a goatsbeard parachute. The thick, barbed area is called an "achene" and inside is where you will find the actual seed. Did you know that strawberry "seeds" are actually achenes? The seeds are inside this outer husk! To find out more about achenes, Wiki has a very good page here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achene

Goatsbeard flowers look quite different than dandilions, but they create the same "parachute balls", except that they are much larger and can be 3" or more in diameter! The seeds form inside an "achene" on a stalk which has the "parachute" or "pappus" at the top. The parachutes catch the wind and can be carried for miles before dropping to the ground!

4 more pictures can be found in notes above! :) You can also find me on Facebook ! Doing a 365 Project has been one of the most rewarding challenges I've ever attempted, but it has its frustrating points too. For instance, I can only pick ONE main picture for each day (collages aren't the same thing!), and sometimes I'm very lucky and manage to get several star-performers. It can be really maddening, and though I can choose to share those pictures that day also, the Picture of the Day will always diminish the other images. ARGH! :D Today is my Goatsbeard Seed exhibit, with my Picture of the Day and FOUR star performers from another day. ( This is the picture that made the pick that day and it included a series of its own! ) I decided that in order to get these pictures the attention they deserve, I would find another goatsbeard for my Picture of the Day and show all my pictures then. And so, I present to you, Goatsbeard Seed Day! :D I hope you enjoy them! :) (There are 4 other pictures following this one!) Joseph Addison (1 May 1672 – 17 June 1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was the eldest son of reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend, Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine. Wikipedia: Joseph Addison Explored on June 28. Highest position, page 2 (#36).

Here you can see the see the sepals (green spiky leaves) opening up to reveal the blossom within! :)

I have always loved this flower from the first time I saw it growing on our property. The sharp-looking green sepals are so cool-looking and the blossoms are just beautiful! After the flowers die away, they create the biggest "dandelion heads" I've ever seen! (I'll have pictures of these too in the coming weeks) It was hard to resist taking zillions of pictures and I managed to get so many nice ones that I've shown three more below. I'd love to know which is your favorite! :) Western Goatsbeard is native to most of Europe and western Asia and was introduced to North America, where it can be found almost everywhere in the United States and Canada. In fact, it's considered to be an invasive weed because it grows so readily and is difficult to irradicate once established. The root and stems are edible but this species is usually not used as a source of food. Other species, especially a lovely purple variety known as Oyster Plant, were once cultivated in the Mediterranean as an important vegetable as well as a traditional herbal medicine. Western Goatsbeard is not known to have any medicinal qualities. If you would like to know more about this flower, Wiki has a very nice page here: Wiki: Goatsbeard (Tragopogon dubius) Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :) Explored on August 7, 2012, placement at #340.