“I wish I knew what these floating ‘fairies’ are”

At certain times, like the start of the academic year, these white feathery floating asterisk-like specimens swirl and gather in protected alcoves around the University buildings. They cluster in our sheltered suburban back doorsteps, but what are they? 

An office poll was unable to name or identify this ubiquitous botanical specimen calling them ‘fairies’ and discussing the urban narrative that if you catch one with a seed, you are entitled to remove it and make a wish. Some did speculate that these ‘fairies’ were actually a dandelion-like plant of some type. Voice captured some specimens (harder than you think) flattened them and headed to the University of Melbourne Botany department experts to understand the science behind them.

Daniel Ohlsen, a PhD student in the School of Botany says, “These white, feathery specimens are from thistles and they are also known as thistledown. Scientifically they are referred to as ‘cypsela’, (or cypselae if you have more than one). If a cypsela has lost its seed, it’s called a ‘pappus’, (pappi being the plural) and it literally means old man.” 

“Cypselae are the dry singled seeded mature fruits of various types of daises and in this case thistles which belong to a tribe of flowering plants in the daisy family.” 

“Your office was on the right track likening it to the dandelion, as they are also a daisy that produces cypselae that look like little parachutes with the seed suspended underneath. The cypselae of thistles are easily detached from the plant and are released in much the same way as dandelion cypselae, by puffs of wind,” says Mr Ohlsen, who is currently studying Australia’s largest fern family.

Associate Professor Ed Newbigin, plant breeding researcher and pollen count expert from the School of Botany says, “Examples of thistles people may be familiar with are the spear or scotch thistle, and the artichoke thistle or cardoon. Thistles are regarded as noxious weeds and you will see them in pastures and environs around Melbourne and they are common throughout southern and eastern Australia. Each plant is capable of producing large numbers of seeds each season, hence are quite pervasive globally. One interesting fact about thistles is the edible globe artichoke was actually cultivated from artichoke thistles.”

While it’s refreshing to finally know the science of this ubiquitous star-like seed dispersal unit, hang on to your inner child, try to catch a ‘fairy’ with a seed, a cypsela if you will, so you can pluck it, turning it into an old man pappus, and make that wish.