platypus Posted February 9, 2016 Share #1  Posted February 9, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) MM/APO 50 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/256687-windowsill-weeds/?do=findComment&comment=2986404'>More sharing options...
Iduna Posted February 10, 2016 Share #2 Â Posted February 10, 2016 Dee, Â very subtle. It reminds me of Chinese ink paintings in terms of lines and design. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted February 10, 2016 Share #3 Â Posted February 10, 2016 very nice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share #4 Â Posted February 10, 2016 Iduna and Adam, thank you both for looking, liking and commenting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 11, 2016 Share #5 Â Posted February 11, 2016 Nice image Dee. With horse pastures I'm out spray killing weeds like this every spring. Your image makes them look good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share #6  Posted February 11, 2016 Bill, thank you. The end of summer (now) is annual weed-fest time for our countryside, and this year we have had an unseasonal amount of rain to encourage both weeds and grass.  These particular specimens are an oversized dandelion of some sort, the seed head is about 4.5 ins across and beautifully delicate in structure, it always fascinates me where beauty can be found! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 12, 2016 Share #7  Posted February 12, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration)   Bill, thank you. The end of summer (now) is annual weed-fest time for our countryside, and this year we have had an unseasonal amount of rain to encourage both weeds and grass.  These particular specimens are an oversized dandelion of some sort, the seed head is about 4.5 ins across and beautifully delicate in structure, it always fascinates me where beauty can be found!  Dee, After reading your description of the weed I'm sure I have the same weed here in the western U.S.  It looked so familiar in your photo. Once the flower goes to seed it sure looks like a giant dandelion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share #8  Posted February 13, 2016 Bill, as your climate is quite similar to ours you probably do have the same weeds. This is a photo of the 'big dandelion' seed head, perhaps you will identify one (or more) in your horse pasture next summer. They are really quite beautiful, lacy, delicate and ephemeral. I admit to being quite fond of weeds, often they are very photogenic and have a secret life that goes greatly unappreciated by those in whose pastures and gardens they reside! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/256687-windowsill-weeds/?do=findComment&comment=2988887'>More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 15, 2016 Share #9 Â Posted February 15, 2016 Dee, Â Yes,that is the late season weed I get in my pastures every year. I spray for weeds in the spring but these weeds seem to only grow long after the chemicals have done their job. If I ever learn their name I'll pass it along. Â Nice image btw. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 15, 2016 Author Share #10 Â Posted February 15, 2016 Thanks Bill, it's nice to know we share a weed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 16, 2016 Share #11 Â Posted February 16, 2016 Â Â Thanks Bill, it's nice to know we share a weed! Dee, I'd be happy for you to have my share. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share #12 Â Posted February 17, 2016 Bill...so kind... Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #13  Posted February 18, 2016 unexpectedly, after about seven days of window sitting......there are puffballs. M262/75 Lux Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/256687-windowsill-weeds/?do=findComment&comment=2991686'>More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 18, 2016 Share #14 Â Posted February 18, 2016 Interesting! Thinking about it, I'm not sure if this weed ever has a flower. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share #15 Â Posted February 18, 2016 Bill, I think you are right, this lot that I have had in captivity have just gone straight from those spear shaped things (that look as though they will produce flowers at any moment) to the seed head as per the photo. ....maybe time to google dandelions. Â So...adding this some time later having googled dandelions.....unsuccessfully other than to discover that my "dandelions" apparently have completely the wrong leaf structure to qualify as a dandelion and that the "seed head" is sometimes also referred to as a flower head? Further investigation required! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 19, 2016 Share #16  Posted February 19, 2016 That's interesting Dee.  It doesn't take much to catch my interest.  I'll have to check into it. There is a woman at the farm store I buy my chemicals from that is very knowledgable about weeds. She has published a few books on the topic. Around here they call her the weed lady. She may know the name of this plant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share #17  Posted February 19, 2016 Bill, anything you or the weed lady can add to this weedy little mystery would be really appreciated by me....for some reason I too have developed an interest (as you've said) that doesn't take much! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 21, 2016 Share #18  Posted February 21, 2016 Dee, I think I've solved our weed identification question.   Salsify; Tragopogon spp. Sunflower Family; COMPOSITÆ (ASTERACEÆ)      Several salsify species exist. The purple-flowered species, T. porrifolius, is cultivated as an edible root crop. The yellow-flowered species (T. dubius) grows wild exclusively. They are more easily spotted in June than in any other month. A thumbnail description is: grassy leaves and giant dandelion-like seedheads.     From Europe, salsifies were early introductions to North America. They possess strength, resiliency, hardiness, and other virtues. They also breed rapidly, like most weeds. Unlike their close cousin the dandelion, salsifies are neither perennial nor shade-tolerant. No site can have too poor a soil, too dry, or too compacted for them. All salsify needs to get established is a place to take root, with sufficient sunlight.     The seedlings usually sprout in fall or spring, grow for a year or so, then flower, whereupon they ripen seeds and die. Hence the "biennial" designation as opposed to annual or perennial. From late April through October, some salsifies can be found with flowers. The flowers open in the morning and "go to bed at noon." They are 1 to 21/2 inches wide, in composite clusters on long stems. After fertilization occurs, the closed flowerheads swell-up into a weighty green affair that ultimately bursts forth into a seedy puffball looking like that of a dandelion except closer in size to a tennis ball, and of a dirty brownish tinge.     The foliage is absolutely slender and reminiscent of pale grass, or young leek or garlic leaves. The very largest leaves will measure 153/4inches long, and at their clasping base 11/4 inches wide. If you snap a stem or leaf you'll find it bleeds a white sap just like dandelion. Oxidization causes the sap to turn brown. The root, too, which is stout and carrotlike in shape, has white sap. Salsify roots, leaves, flowerbuds and lowers are edible raw or cooked. The flavor is so mild as to be almost nonexistent. I figure it is "basic chlorophyll with a trace of diluted sugar." Most people who eat salsify concentrate their efforts on the roots, and some swear the flavor is like seafood. The purple-flowered species, grown as a root crop, is sometimes called Oyster Plant or Vegetable Oyster. I eat the roots little, but the green parts much. It is one of the best lettuce-like wild plants available.     Medicinally, no especially potent salsify uses are known. Nonetheless, some herbalists use it.     If you want to find salsify wild, look for it in sunny meadows or roadsides or along railroad tracks. Remember, its flowers close at noon. The Tilth weed patch has purple salsify. If you want to eat the starchy root, pluck it in late spring before it sends energy into the leafy flowerstem. The flowerstems can grow to 5 feet high in gardens; the wild yellow species are smaller, only 1 to 3 feet tall.     Another name for these plants is Goat's-beard, an English translation of Tragopogon, in turn from Greek tragos (goat), and pogon (a beard).  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/256687-windowsill-weeds/?do=findComment&comment=2993787'>More sharing options...
platypus Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share #19 Â Posted February 21, 2016 Bill, thank you! Was this result your own brilliant work, or did you consult the weed lady? Either way I'm so impressed. Â I have yet to catch my lot producing anything resembling a flower, (even before noon) but I will keep looking and hoping. Â Thanks again for your detective work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted February 22, 2016 Share #20 Â Posted February 22, 2016 You're welcome Dee. I goggled "weed that looks like a giant dandelion". Some of the sites showed the flower and I'm sure I've seen them. As I've said before, it doesn't take much to spark my interest. Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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