Dandelion seeds form through a process called apomixis, which is a type of asexual reproduction. This means they develop without the usual sexual process of fertilization.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Dandelions Produce Flowers: Dandelions do indeed produce flowers. These flowers appear quite normal and contain structures that are expected to form seeds through sexual reproduction, including ovules.
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Apomixis Bypasses Sexual Reproduction: However, instead of being fertilized by pollen from another dandelion (or even itself), the ovule develops into a seed without fertilization. This means the seeds are essentially clones of the parent plant.
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Genetic Identity: Because the seed develops asexually, the resulting dandelion plant will have the same genetic makeup as the original parent plant.
In short, dandelion seeds are formed through a special type of asexual reproduction where seeds develop without fertilization.
