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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 19, 2014 7:15:47 GMT -5
And we so need an 'Asters' subsection  Anyone else working/interested/collecting them? Beyond their obvious excellent food use, they just fascinate me. Perhaps it's their much maligned nature. I"ve been collecting species. Seems that I have one with larger leaves and a milder taste in a full sun garden growing with a group of others. I keep getting people to taste it when they come on tours. |
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Post by philagardener on Dec 19, 2014 7:55:10 GMT -5
Great topic! Many species in the genus Taraxacum, including our common dandelion T. officinale, reproduce "seed" by a process called apomixis and are said to be unable to cross (although they look like they shed lots of pollen to me). In the absence of good genetic markers, I simply don't know how carefully that has been evaluated, but that might be a barrier to more then vegetative propagation. They certainly are prolific from root fragments and do well in poor soils!
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 19, 2014 12:17:18 GMT -5
I"ve read that too and so far have observed no crossing. I haven't looked into details of trying to trip this system though I am in the collection and observation phase. My current darling is a T. officinale from iceland with mottled leaves. They are only babies but oh so cute.
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Post by darrenabbey on Dec 21, 2014 2:24:07 GMT -5
The general story about dandelions is that they need pollen to trigger seed formation… but that they don't actually use the new genetic material from the pollen. This is similar to some geckos (like Lepidodactylus lugubris) that require pseudocopulation to trigger the hormonal development of parthogenic eggs. That said, dandelions show an amazing flexibility of growth due to different growth conditions, and presumably different clonal lines. My current darling is a T. officinale from iceland with mottled leaves. They are only babies but oh so cute. Any baby pictures? |
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Post by ottawagardener on Dec 31, 2014 16:13:38 GMT -5
Oh yes, I'll get some soon.
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Post by reed on Dec 31, 2014 17:06:27 GMT -5
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 2, 2015 13:09:24 GMT -5
I mean asteraceae  But I do like asters and some are supposed to make good food. |
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Post by toad on Jan 3, 2015 18:26:45 GMT -5
I like Aster tripolium, a to have it at hand I collected a little seeds at the beach, and now grow it in my garden. Most visitors like it too, often commenting, that it taste different, than all the "green tasting" wild edibles.
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Post by philagardener on Jan 3, 2015 19:05:48 GMT -5
toad , Interesting! You are just chewing the dry seeds?
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Post by toad on Jan 6, 2015 15:59:47 GMT -5
:-)
Sorry I wasn't clear. I grow this Aster in my garden from the seeds collected at the beach. I eat the leaves, and have filled a little jar with leaves and live kombucha, to see if they will be delicious also fermented.
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Post by Tiirsys on Jan 14, 2015 21:23:54 GMT -5
Dandelions have always fascinated me, and I have always thought they look nice. I sneak them into things I cook on occasion and don't tell my family.
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Post by steev on Jan 15, 2015 2:01:36 GMT -5
Do they notice, ever?
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Post by Tiirsys on Jan 15, 2015 13:54:28 GMT -5
Never.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 15, 2015 18:58:06 GMT -5
My kids really enjoy dandi-squid tempura in the spring and will happily eat flowers. Greens need to be mixed...
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Post by robertb on Jan 23, 2015 12:56:25 GMT -5
Dandelions produce masses of pollen, and are important bee plants in late spring, following the willow. Given the amount of nutrient in the stuff, I'd be very surprised if they don't do something for the plant! I've just been sent seed of a cultivated variety - it's just labelled 'Culinary Dandelion' - which I'm interested in trying as soon as I have some space organised.
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But I do like asters and some are supposed to make good food.
