Discovery 13 / 27
Puschel & Flauschi’s Forest Discoveries
The Dandelion Takes Flight
The green explorer’s magnifying glass with a leaf-shaped handle
One cheerful spring day, Puschel and Flauschi stopped at the bright edge of the woods. A dandelion seed head stood among the grasses. Its white head looked like a tiny round cloud.
Puschel“Flauschi! A cloud on a stalk. I hope it does not rain nuts.”
A gentle breeze crossed the path. One white parachute came loose and drifted past Puschel’s nose. He kept both paws in front of his tummy and followed it only with his eyes.
Flauschi“It belongs to the dandelion. After its yellow flowers, little fruits with these parachutes form. Together they make the fluffy seed head.”
Puschel saw a little brown piece hanging below the fine white hairs. Flauschi explained that it held a seed. A seed can grow into a new plant in a suitable place.
Puschel“Then a tiny dandelion of tomorrow is travelling past us. But where is its engine?”
Flauschi“It has none. The hairs slow its fall through the air. The wind can carry the little fruit away. It looks like a parachute, but it is made of fine hairs rather than cloth.”
Flauschi kept the green magnifying glass lowered beside her tummy. They did not need to chase the flying parachutes. Some landed in the grass nearby; others floated farther across the path.
Puschel“I would like a ticket for that journey. But my tail would probably be too heavy.”
Flauschi giggled. They did not blow on the seed head or pick it. Another little fruit set off with the wind. Puschel waved with one paw. This time he had solved the mystery without climbing aboard.
Look closely
What the two discovered
After its yellow flowers, a dandelion makes lots of tiny fruits. Each holds a seed. The fruits with their white parachutes form the fluffy seed head.
Each parachute is made of fine hairs. They slow its fall through the air, so wind can carry the little fruit away. This is called wind dispersal: wind takes seeds to new places.
The brown piece hangs below the parachute. It is a tiny fruit containing a seed, not a speck of dust. The whole fruit travels with the parachute.
Not every flying fruit becomes a new plant. The seed needs a suitable place, enough water and the right conditions to grow. We only watch its journey.
Explorer’s rule: Leave animals and plants in peace. Just watch and do not damage anything.
Sources for adults: University of Edinburgh: Dandelion fruit flight · University of Edinburgh: How dandelion seeds fly
Keep exploring
Where shall we wusel next?
Choose how to keep exploring: another story or a related activity.
Look for woodland treasures
Take an adult along and choose the printable nature bingo. Leave plants and animal homes untouched.
Start exploring →Keep exploring together
Look closely with nature bingo and woodland games.
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