Image of Taraxacum tenejapense A. J. Richards

Description:

Under a low magnification of 72x, this 2006 scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted details of the morphologic surface characteristics of a "dandelion clock", from a Common Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale plant. The "clock" is the filamentous "puffball" of seeds arranged so as to be easily dispersed by the wind, or the breath of a curious child.

In this field of view the remnants of the seed attachments are visible as small nubs protruding from a small papule. It is from these nub-like points that the "parachute"-equipped seeds detach, and are blown away, sometime over a distance of miles. Note that this is the first of a series of PHIL images, 8791-8796, in which the magnification is increased, thereby, providing greater and greater morphologic detail of the point of the developing seed attachments.
Created: 2006