this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2026
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Science Memes

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top 24 comments
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[–] genuineparts@infosec.pub 133 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I call bullshit on Dandelion. Dandelion indicates that there is a surface. That surface could be moist roofing tile.

[–] FiniteBanjo@feddit.online 32 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I see it grow in concrete all the time, too.

[–] katkit@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Only when there's a crack, through which it can access the soil.

[–] FiniteBanjo@feddit.online 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nope, I've seen it grow on overpasses, too. Some plants just make due with minerals and water

[–] katkit@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Fair enough

[–] bigboismith@lemmy.world 113 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Dandelion indicates ground (optional)

[–] gegil@sopuli.xyz 28 points 3 days ago

I remember seeing a dandelion growing out off an old rotten brick.

[–] 87Six@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 days ago

May be a false positive, 50-50 chance it's just floating there or growing out of obsidian in a volcano

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club 24 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)
[–] biggerbogboy@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

In other news, I’ve got a parsley plant that grew underneath the pavement between our house and the garden, and now we’ve got wall parsley that somehow grows and tastes better than the various other parsley plants that aren’t directly touching the brick wall

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Maybe there's some lead in those bricks. I hear lead is delicious.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago

Would rather see the original!

[–] bryophile@lemmy.zip 25 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

That's not heather.

And I don't get the meme. Is the joke that these plants don't indicate anything except that there is soil?

Some of these plants indicate nothing (dandelion and clover), not even that there is soil to begin with.

But the heather and lavender indicate (very) nutrient poor soil. The soil heather grows on is very acidic and for lavender it is basic, calcium rich soil.

The stinging nettle soil is very rich in nitrogen.

So there are some easy indicators?

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 25 points 3 days ago

Trust the moss lover to know. Get back to the bog, old man.

(Kidding. It's part of the joke.)

[–] FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

Dandelions and nettles indicate "rabbits haven't got here yet"

Poppies indicate "the CIA hasn't sent the US Army here yet"

Clover indicates that leprechauns haven't got here yet. Return after Saint Patrick's day to find loose chunks of gold.

Lavender indicates that artisanal soap makers haven't got here yet.

Heather indicates - oh, it's gone. They're here.

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

The meme removed what they actually indicated for just "soil". It's absurdist, though technically correct.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 days ago

Grass indicates that the owner isn't a gamer.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 20 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I have most of these in my yard and this is helpful. I was getting worried and confused about what might be under them. 

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago

Don't worry, they'll all grow over buried bodies.

[–] Soot@hexbear.net 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Growing dandelion indicates soil? I think the dandelion growing in between my house bricks and on my roof would beg to differ!

[–] Monument 1 points 3 days ago

It indicates other things, too!

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Orchids indicate s... Wait...

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 3 days ago

diversity? alot of orchisds are Epiphyties on trees, or some rare strategy like mixed or full mycoheterorophy(hence diversity)