What plant clones itself as a seed?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
January 31, 2002
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The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Wiggers) is a common plant, but not ordinary. The dandelion is native to Europe and eastern Asia, probably evolving as an alpine plant.
The dandelion's leaves are arranged in a basal rosette. Close to the earth, the leaves are out of cold, drying winds. The temperature at ground level is warmer and the humidity higher. Grazing animals generally pass over low growing plants.
The first flowers of the season are on tall peduncles. Above the surrounding grasses, they are more likely to attract insects for cross-pollination. If the plant loses a few flowers to a grazing animal or lawn mower, the following flowers will be on short peduncles. The peduncle will not elongate until the seeds are ripe and ready to float away in the wind.
Dandelion 'flowers' open on bright, clear days. The 'flowers' are actually a head comprised of ray flowers; each petal is part of a tiny but complete flower. The head closes at night to protect the myriad of flowers from the dew. The plants are also weather-wise; when humidity and light levels indicate rain, the heads close.
At the base of each flower is a single ovule which will develop into a seed. If the dandelion has a normal complement of chromosomes, it is a diploid. These diploids undergo meiosis, the reduction process where only one half of the chromosomes remain in the cell. They produce seeds by the fertilization of the ovule with the gametes (sex cells) from the pollen grain.
But many dandelions are polyploid, usually triploid. These triploids (3 sets of chromosomes) do not undergo meiosis. Most triploid plants can never produce seed, but the dandelion sets seed by a process called apomixis (apo- away from; mixis, act of mixing).
The triploid ovule avoids meiosis, keeping the complete complement of the mother's chromosomes. The unreduced egg cell develops into an embryo. The embryo (young plant) within the seed is a natural clone, genetically identical to the mother plant.
The University of Virginia, College at Wise, has a photograph of the dandelion. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://people.uvawise.edu/swvaflora/Taraxacum_officinale.html
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What lawn weed was once a tonic? Herbal Folklore - January 28, 2002
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What weed was a treatment for mange? Herbal Folklore - January 5, 2004
Why is this ancient grain making a comeback? Plants that Changed History - September 7, 2004
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Hardy Hosta Collection
Springhill Nursery®
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Every garden has a shady spot that can be enhanced by elegant, easy-to-grow and extremely hardy hostas. Hostas offer lush, richly colored foliage that lends a cool, soothing feel to areas under large trees or shrubs.
In the summer, tall-flowering stems with delicate pastel lavender or white bells give off a lovely scent. The foliage is attractive from spring right up until the hard frosts of fall.
This collection includes one each of the following varieties:
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Gold Standard Hosta - Leaves grow 24" tall and emerge light green with a dark edge in the spring. Centers turn gold by midsummer, when pale lavender flowers bloom on 36" stems. Spreads 30".
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