What did a 2018 study find above the pappus?

A stable separated vortex ring of air

How do many dandelions make seeds?

Without pollination, producing clones

Dandelion Quiz: Parachute Seeds and Floating Air Vortices

Children blow on the seed heads to make wishes, but scientists only explained how the seeds fly so well in 2018, and this dandelion quiz shares what they found. Play an interactive set of 10 questions on the pappus, the separated vortex ring, mostly empty bristles, distances traveled, flower heads made of many florets, seeds without pollination and the name lion's tooth.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Parachute
What is the fluffy parachute on a dandelion seed called?
Vortex
What did a 2018 study find above the pappus?
Space
What is surprising about the pappus structure?
Distance
How far can dandelion seeds travel in good conditions?
Head
What is a dandelion flower head made of?
Family
Which plant family do dandelions belong to?
Clones
How do many dandelions make seeds?
Name
What does the name dandelion come from?
Root
What is roasted dandelion root used for?
Clock
What do children call a dandelion seed head?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is the fluffy parachute on a dandelion seed called?
Answer: The pappus
It has around 100 bristles.
Q2: What did a 2018 study find above the pappus?
Answer: A stable separated vortex ring of air
It boosts drag and lift.
Q3: What is surprising about the pappus structure?
Answer: It is mostly empty space
Air flows between the bristles.
Q4: How far can dandelion seeds travel in good conditions?
Answer: Kilometers
Most land close, but some go far.
Q5: What is a dandelion flower head made of?
Answer: Many tiny florets
It belongs to the daisy family.
Q6: Which plant family do dandelions belong to?
Answer: Asteraceae
Sunflowers are relatives.
Q7: How do many dandelions make seeds?
Answer: Without pollination, producing clones
This is called apomixis.
Q8: What does the name dandelion come from?
Answer: French for lion's tooth
It refers to the jagged leaves.
Q9: What is roasted dandelion root used for?
Answer: A coffee substitute
Leaves are also eaten in salads.
Q10: What do children call a dandelion seed head?
Answer: A clock
Blowing it is said to tell the time.

Dandelion Quiz – Parachute Seeds and Floating Air Vortices

The dandelion, a member of the daisy family, has flower heads made of many tiny florets. Many dandelions produce seeds without pollination, a process called apomixis, creating near-identical clones.

Each seed carries a pappus, a parachute of about 100 bristles that is mostly empty space. In 2018 researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered that air flowing through the bristles forms a stable separated vortex ring above the seed, keeping it aloft efficiently.

Most seeds land nearby, but some travel kilometers on the wind. The name comes from the French dent de lion, lion's tooth, after the jagged leaves. Roasted roots are used as a coffee substitute, and children call the seed head a clock.

What This Quiz Teaches

Science and nature fans will enjoy these questions.

How dandelion seeds fly
What scientists discovered
How the flowers are built
How they reproduce
How people use them

Did You Know?

A single plant can produce thousands of seeds.
Dandelion leaves are rich in vitamins.
Bees use early dandelions for food.
The flowers close at night.
Some dandelions are grown for rubber.