The puff in silverpuff

If you’ve wondered why Chaptalia texana, which you’ve already seen three times in this blog and as recently as yesterday, is called silverpuff, wonder no more. Note the same nodding posture that characterized this wildflower in its budding stage. Also notice the resemblance to the seed head of the more familiar (and in North America both alien and invasive) dandelion, which is likewise a member of the sunflower family.

Once again this photograph comes from a March 5 session on the property of native plant lovers Pat and Dale Bulla in northwest Austin.

© 2012 Steven Schwartzman