The grass on the Onward Christian Soldiers memorial stone green at Horbury Bridge has been allowed to grow as the daffodils fade away and now the dandelions are in flower. A single fasciated dandelion is growing behind the bench.
Fasciation occurs when the the apical meristem (growing tip) of a plant becomes elongated instead of growing as a single point. This can be a genetic or hormonal abnormality but it can also be caused by a fungus, bacteria or virus. Alternatively it could be a reaction to something in the plant’s environment.
The dandelion on the left is growing from a crack between concrete paviers at the edge of our driveway. I decided that I’d enjoy drawing it before weeding it out. This is the first proper drawing that I’ve done with my new Lamy Safari fountain pen. It’s giving me a similar result to a dip pen and Indian ink but it’s much more convenient.
I do not recall seeing a dandelion like this before. I do remember around 40 years back making delicious coffee from dried dandelion roots. Given the amount of dandelions in my garden, I should perhaps give it another go.
In addition to dandelions we’ve got chicory spreading all around the little meadow area but the roots are too small to turn into coffee substitute. I might try making a dandelion and chicory salad from the leaves though!
Wow, fascinating to see that huge dandelion!
I think that it deserves an episode to itself in the next series of Dr Who. They’ve got the perfect Latin name for an invading alien; the Taraxacums.