Beginning to End

Marty photographed this New Mexico Thistle (Cirsium neomexicanum) plant over the course of several weeks, from bud to post-seed dispersal. Thanks, Marty!

All photos by Marty Horowitz

Buds begin.

Flowers follow.

Fruits form. 

Generally, if the fruits look like dandelion fruits, the plant is in the Sunflower/Aster family. The dark things at the bottom of the fluffy stuff are the seeds. Yes, these are wind dispersed.

Seeds away!