Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) - Cristate

Occasionally something happens to alter the normal growth pattern of a plant and a cristate form develops. I found a cristate Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) along the drive to the road in mid May. I was really curious as to how far the bloom could develop and began photographing it.

Can you see it? It’s in the middle of the photo.

A view of the developing flower, front on.

A view of the developing flower, from above.

Six days later. The flower develops a little further; the petals are emerging. The wonderful ribbon stem is clearly visible.

A closer view.

Up close.

Sadly, my observations came to an abrupt end. Something that didn’t appreciate natural history but did appreciate the gourmand science made a meal of it and I wasn’t able to observe the flower to its end.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution map:
- USDA Plants Database: Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Taraxacum officinale

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Taraxacum officinale
- Wikipedia: Taraxacum officinale

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower - Wildflower Index
- Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)