NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Dandelions have small seeds surrounded by hair-like feathery structures. This makes the seed lightweight. Due to its lightweight, it can be easily dispersed by wind. These seeds are carried away from the parent plant by wind to far places for germination.

Detailed explanation-2: -The common dandelion is perhaps the most iconic, and well-known species to use wind dispersal. The windsail-like structure, called the pappus, opens and closes in response to moisture. On dry, windy days the pappus opens, catches the wind, and transports lightweight dandelion seeds far away from the parent plant.

Detailed explanation-3: -Wind dispersal Have you ever blown on a dandelion head and watched the seeds float away? This is wind dispersal. Seeds from plants like dandelions, swan plants and cottonwood trees are light and have feathery bristles and can be carried long distances by the wind.

Detailed explanation-4: -Each seed is attached to a characteristic fuzzy structure called a ‘pappus’ that allows the seed to be carried by the wind. Dandelion leaves, flower, and seed head with pappus.

Detailed explanation-5: -Life Cycle. Dandelions grow from seeds and do not spread asexually from stolons or runner; they have a single tap root. However, they can and do reproduce asexually by seed. They are capable of producing viable seed without need of cross-fertilization, a process known as “apomixis".