A big thanks to silvercreek_garden@Flickr for today's image (original image | submitted via the Flickr BPotD Group Pool). This photograph is a great companion to a previous flower image of Anemone patens var. multifida on BPotD.

Each of the long “hairs” is part of an individual seed; in botanical terms, each one is a long-villose, plumose beak of an achene (ref: FNA account for Anemone patens var. multifida). Translating that into descriptive terms, you'd come up with “a simple dry fruit with a single seed (achene) with an appendage (beak) that is feathery (plumose) and covered in long, soft hairs (long-villose)”.

As you might imagine, the seeds are typically dispersed by the wind. I've also read that the seeds can attach themselves to animal fur and be dispersed that way.

Botany / horticulture resource link: Plants and Japan by Masashi Yamaguchi is jam-packed with interesting writing and photographs. In my opinion, the highlight of the site is the section on “Plants and the Japanese”; this area provides insight into the cultural and economic importance of plants to the Japanese. If you're exploring the site, don't stop there, though – much to see and admire! This site was suggested by Brent Hine. Thanks Brent!