Dandelion Seed by Chipka
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Description
Though there’s a more accurate scientific name for dandelions, the common name for this plant is derived from the French “tooth of the lion.” This probably also explains the toughness of the plant in question and why—in its current US-American status as a weed—it’s impossible to eradicate: thankfully! The dandelion is actually one of the first cultivated food plants in human history; the entire plant is edible and despite the common US-American description of this hearty perennial as a “weed” it’s also one of the key flavor ingredients in that oh-so-beloved US-American soft drink, root beer. (I once heard a Ferengi bartender describe root beer as sweet and fizzy and much like the United Federation of Planets, but as this isn’t a post about Star Trek; I also learned that “Chipka” apparently means “rose hip” in Bulgarian, but alas…this double tangent is going nowhere.)
The dandelion is commonly treated as a weed (or treated with extreme indifference) and yet it’s one of the very first plants cultivated for human consumption in prehistoric times. The entire plant is edible, and it often lends its essence to the aforementioned root beer, as well as dandelion and burdock, dandelion tea and dandelion wine; most intriguingly there’s also caffeine-free dandelion coffee. Given the distinct flavor of this plant, I suspect that dandelion coffee is on the strong side of the flavor-spectrum. The leaves, roots, stems, petals, and seeds of this plant are also important food sources for scores of small critters and were an important food source for humans. In many parts of the world, the dandelion is still cultivated for its use in salads and as a dish similar to blanched spinach. The Victorians garnished their sandwiches with dandelion, though I can’t really imagine a sandwich topped with lovely yellow flower heads; I suspect the Victorians only used the leaves and saved the floral portions for other things (probably involving the production of wine or tea.)
I took this photograph last year: during the start of massive changes sweeping through Chicago and most of the Midwestern USA. I hadn’t really thought too much of any of what dandelion seeds might imply. I was simply intrigued by their structure, their profusion, and amazing details. I got as close to these seed clusters as I could; there were aggressive ants in the area and I wasn’t in the mood to commit ant-carnage by plopping down on top of them, but I was able to score this image.
Comments (20)
MagikUnicorn
Faemike55
This is a fabulous image and your narrative/description of the various uses of the plant/weed is fascinating to say the least. Thanks for sharing this image (taken at your peril of ants in your pants)
KatesFriend
Garak, the resident Cardassian, described root beer as, "vile". To which our favourite Ferengi, Quark added, "I know, it's so bubbling and cloying and happy". "But do you know what's really frightening? If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it". "It's insidious, just like the Federation", to paraphrase Garak. Just had to set some Trek stuff straight while I sit hear and listen to my cat drinking my water. She has two huge water bowls, but she insists upon sneaking laps from my mug instead. I'm certain that she thinks that I don't know.
My grandmother used to make dandelion wine. Though, this practice stopped long before I was born. It was a concession to the economics of the depression and the lawn quality of the New Toronto suburbs of those days - lots of dandelions. And still, lots of dandelions. And no, no matter what I do, there's always more popping up year after year after year. Maybe I should take your advice and turn this negative into a positive. The idea of dandelion coffee is intriguing.
DukeNukem2005
This is a very beautiful!
wysiwig
Your efforts were not in vain, a superb image. I can't count the days I spent as a young boy pulling dandelions from my parent's lawn only to find more of them the next weekend. Of course it could have had something to do with my habit of blowing on the pods and watching the seeds scatter to the winds. And let's not forget Dandelion Wine, which is a 1957 novel by Ray Bradbury.
photosynthesis
Wonderful image - I especially like the exposed plant (minus the fluffy, flyaway parts) that looks like a sea urchin with jellyfish tentacles.
"And what is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered..." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
giulband
Marvelous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sharky_
Nice! Aloha
Mondwin
Fabulous my friend!!!Bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma
jclP
Excellent pic
durleybeachbum
Lots of folk here make Dandelion and Burdock cordial or wine. Super pic, and I am fairly lax about these wild flowers in my garden as the insects like them so much.
claude19
a typically French expression about someone who causes harm to many ... "He'll still eat the dandelions by pushing up daisies" !!!
jendellas
Love dandelion & burdock. We used to tell the time with these, we would blow on them & count until the seeds had all gone & that was the time!!! The things kids do. x
jac204
My parents used to dig dandelion up from the lawn and cook and serve them as dandelion greens. My father made dandelion wine also.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
blankfrancine
Beautiful detail and effective DOF.
RodS
A wonderful, detailed shot of these seeds, Chip. I know they're edible, but I haven't got around to trying them since I was a kid.. I keep remembering the very bitter taste.
beachzz
Poof---just makes me want to blow on it!!!
flavia49
gorgeous
auntietk
An exquisite photograph, and wonderful information. They say a weed is just a plant that's growing where you don't want it. So if you want dandelions growing in your yard, they're not weeds! That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.