Tiger Swallowtail on Dandelion Flowers

Dandelions
Dandelion derived its scientific name ‘officinale’ meaning ‘medicinal’, because of its medical use. Some think the backward pointing teeth of the leaves resemble those of a lion, hence the common name.

The Dandelion is a common perennial herb of the sunflower family. It is solitary and can grow from 5-60 cm. in height.
LEAVES:
– grow from the root, circling around the stem
– spoon shaped or oblong
– can be lobed or toothed
– long – almost as long as the flower stems
FLOWERS:
– bright yellow ray flowers comprise the heads
– no disk flowers
– the flower head sits on a base of overlapping bracts
FRUIT:
– seeds are attached to a ‘parachute’ by a long stalk
– the ‘parachute’ is white or grayish
HABITAT:
– Dandelions can be found at most elevations
– in disturbed, cultivated areas and clearings
– widespread throughout BC
FASCINATING FACTS:
– Dandelions were introduced from Europe
– in the evening the flowers close.
– young tender Dandelion leaves can be cooked or eaten raw as a salad green
– a Dandelion coffee is made from dried and ground roots; the roots can also be cooked and eaten
– dandelion wine is made from the flowers.
(Accessed on the internet July 10, 2009.
http://www.bcadventure.com)

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucas) is a strong flier with distinctive yellow and black striped markings on its wings and body (some females are brown or black, mimicking the poisonous pipevine swallowtail). This relatively common butterfly has a wingspan of 3.5-6.5 inches (9-16.5 cm). Southern subspecies are larger than the northern ones.

These butterflies are called swallowtails because they have long “tails” on their hind wings which look a bit like the long, pointed tails of swallows (a type of bird)
(Accessed on the internet July 10, 2009
http://www.enchantedlearning.com)

Photo taken at Buckinghorse River Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi
1/400 sec.
F11
85mm
ISO 400