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: [NatureNS] nature notes, question on dandelions</span></
On 5/17/2020 3:08 PM, rita.paul@ns.sympatico.ca wrote:
> My Grandparents loved Lamb's Quarters. Cooked like
> spinach it was very good. My Grandfather saved the seed when threshing
> the grain for birds in the winter. A lot of uses but a bad weed! There
> never
> was any shortage of it from now to frost.
> Enjoy the spring
* well, we've got accounts of both Dandelions -
https://adaptating.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-dandelion-diet.html -
Dandelions mostly don't reproduce sexually, but produce seeds asexually
by apomixis, without pollination, resulting in offspring that are
genetically identical to the parent plant. This means that clones which
have adaptive characteristics can take over uniform habitats, such as
lawns and roadsides. Since they don't require pollination, selection
among clones may favour those with reduced nectar and pollen production,
explaining their relative unattractiveness to pollinators
https://www.gardenmyths.com/dandelions-important-bees/
...these clones have been classified by splitting taxonomists as
'microspecies.' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum - ' The genus
contains many species, which usually (or in the case of triploids,
obligately) reproduce by apomixis, resulting in many local populations
and endemism. In the British Isles alone, 234 microspecies are
recognised in nine loosely defined sections, of which 40 are "probably
endemic."' Notice that this article doesn't mention Taraxacum palustre,
the Soggy Ground Dandelion, which lacks the folded-back bracts around
the flowerhead of the common Dandelion, and has become common in eastern
Ontario since the 1980s -
https://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-dandelion-oil-on-canvas-5-x-7in_08.html
- and Lambsquarters -
https://adaptating.blogspot.com/2018/07/lambsquarters.html - The biggest
Lambsquarters plants we've ever seen were in the rich clay of the
Scarborough Bluffs on the shore of Lake Ontario: 250 cm tall, with stems
25 mm in diameter! "We plucked the foliage from this enormous plant like
penned Goats offered cut branches, and found them mild and succulent"
...we also eat a lot of Violets, in our case the introduced Viola
odorata, and I chewed my way through Euell Gibbons books as they came out...
fred.
================================================
> Paul
>> On May 17, 2020 at 3:11 PM dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca wrote:
>>
>> We eat both purple and white (viola papilionacea). I think
>> Johnny-jump-ups and pansies are also edible, but I haven’t tried them.
>>
>> I loved Euell Gibbons when I was in my 20’s (way back in the mists of
>> time). His books introduced us to the idea of foraging and to many
>> plants that are still favorites, like chenopodium album, viburnum
>> opulus, and the violets. Also, mussels, which were not eaten by many
>> people then.
>>
>> We still have all three books.
>>
>> Jane
>>
>> *From:*naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca *On Behalf Of *David Webster
>> *Sent:* May 17, 2020 12:13 PM
>> *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>> *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] nature notes, question on dandelions
>>
>> Hi Jane & All,
>>
>> Are these our various wild violets, the white ornamental violet or
>> both ?
>>
>> Dave W. Kentville
>>
>> On 5/17/2020 8:52 AM, dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca
>> <mailto:dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>> What I wonder is if there are any vitamins left in the dandelions
>> after boiling in two waters.
>>
>> For delicious and nutritious spring greens, I like the violets,
>> both leaves and flowers (Eat them raw.). Euell Gibbons said they
>> have the most nutrition of any of the spring greens. Luckily,
>> they like our “lawn”.
>>
>> Cheers.
>>
>> Jane Schlosberg
>>
>> *From:*naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
>> <mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> *On Behalf Of *Mary Macaulay
>> *Sent:* May 16, 2020 4:15 PM
>> *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca <mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
>> *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] nature notes, question on dandelions
>>
>> Well, having been introduced to the fine cuisine of the dandelion
>> by my Italian in-laws I expect much is due to human selection. The
>> most highly prized for spring Sautés has very fat delicious
>> flowers still stuck inside the leaves before shooting up on the
>> stalk. When prepared (after twice boiling to get out the bitter)
>> in a fry of olive oil salt and garlic the pump flower head is what
>> provides the most delicious flavour and texture :)
>>
>> With kindest regards
>>
>> Mary (Macaulay), P.Eng.
>>
>> On May 16, 2020, at 3:46 PM, David Webster <dwebster@glinx.com
>> <mailto:dwebster@glinx.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Jim and All,
>>
>> Further on the question of Taraxacum officinale
>> reproduction. Fernald in Gray's Manual of Botany 8th. ed. says
>> "parthenogenetically reproduced" and he defines
>> Parthenogenetic as "Developing without fertilization"
>>
>> In an American Scientist article 59(6) 1971;The Population
>> Biology of Dandelions; Otto T. Solbrig says on page 686
>> "...its asexual reproduction."
>>
>> YT, DW, Kentville
>>
>> On 5/16/2020 1:33 PM, Jim Wolford wrote:
>>
>> *QUESTION* about common dandelion: Long ago I was told, or
>> read somewhere, that common dandelion flowering is a sham,
>> in that all the seeds produced are just clones of the
>> parent plants — any truth to this?? If so, why all the
>> meiosis and flower parts, just for dispersal??
>>
>> Also today, a single flower of *wild strawberry* seen,
>> *Norway maple* in flower, and *shadbush* almost in bloom.
>>
>> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
>>
>
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
Fragile Inheritance Natural History
'Wildlife on Roads' -
http://doingnaturalhistory.blogspot.ca/2018/03/upcoming-book-wildlife-on-roads-handbook.html
'Daily' Paintings - http://karstaddailypaintings.blogspot.com/
4 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
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