Carol Ann Miller, age 13, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for her question:

HOW DOES THE DANDELION REPRODUCE?

Most people think of the dandelion as a pest. Its unwanted golden yellow head, which is a cluster of flowers, pops up often on lawns. But the plant was brought deliberately to America from Europe by the colonists. Some people use the leaves in salads, or a wine is made from the flowers.

The dandelion differs from most other plants in the manner in which it reproduces. Its ovaries form fertile seeds without having to be pollinated.

In order to get rid of dandelion plants that are growing on a lawn, it is necessary for a gardener to cut deep into their roots. The roots grow up to three feet in depth. Slicing close under the surface only encourages the plant to send out new runners. Sometimes the plants are sprayed with chemicals that destroy the dandelions but do not harm the grass.