dandelion genetics or seed saving

Does anyone on here know anything about dandelion genetics, or seed saving? Last year I found an odd dandelion, figured it wasn't a mutation and just formed oddly just like how dandelions sometimes put out double flowers on a few stems. But the plant came back, meaning it may be an actual mutation. If I saved seed from this, could I possibly select for this type of mutation, or would this be a one time thing? Would seed even be viable, would I have to dig it up and isolate it to stop cross pollination? Don't know anything about dandelion genetics, only that they are edible - roots-leaves-flowers(Probably stem too?). This would be an interesting thing to grow, if the seed comes true. Might be fun to breed with the "cultivated dandelions" for taste as well. Has anyone seen a dandelion plant like this before, I haven't so just wondering about it. Also hoping someone here knows how to save seed for it. Imagine you just store the white puff ball's seed away.

I recall this type of growth being a pathology rather than genetic. The word for it is fasciation. Here is a very brief explanatory article:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/fasciation-in-flowers.htm

Carol Deppe spoke in one of her books about some brief adventures in dandylion selection.

There is some interesting variation out there in the genus. I recall though that many of the common Taraxacum officionale sort we all know are produced without pollination which seems odd because they are such prolific producers of pollen and nectar. I shall go Google it.

Edit: result of Googling

https://www.howplantswork.com/2009/06/08/is-sex-necessary-for-dandelions-apparently-not/

William Schlegel wrote:I recall this type of growth being a pathology rather than genetic. The word for it is fasciation. Here is a very brief explanatory article:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/fasciation-in-flowers.htm

Carol Deppe spoke in one of her books about some brief adventures in dandylion selection.

There is some interesting variation out there in the genus. I recall though that many of the common Taraxacum officionale sort we all know are produced without pollination which seems odd because they are such prolific producers of pollen and nectar. I shall go Google it.

Edit: result of Googling

https://www.howplantswork.com/2009/06/08/is-sex-necessary-for-dandelions-apparently-not/

I might keep this as an oddity in the yard for now. The flowers are quite pleasant looking in my opinion. Cut around the base of the plant, noticed normal stems and such. This same plant had this happen last year though. I remember it, due to being next to the sidewalk. I have noticed all sorts of interesting ones, but this one was quite something with the large stem and flowers. Guessing something bunched them all into flowering stem.

There I was, minding my own business, when all of the sudden I was confronted by this!

A multi-headed dandelion on a thick central stalk.

Who the heck invited this guy!?

Dense multi-layered dandelion foilage surround the 'mega-stalk'

It's stalk is so beefy. I'm amazed.

No reason to to try saving the seeds and growing them. Not a dandelion expert, but according to reading they cross pollinate easily even between closely related species, but many individual dandelions are self-pollinated.
I have seen similar plants once in a while.

I had been under the impression that almost all dandelions reproduced exclusively by apomixis (each seed being genetically identical to the mother plant) which would make selective breeding impossible, but apparently some species have sexual reproduction. I see some very interesting possibilities.

If you could reproduce your plant, Timothy, I think that would have potential! I like eating the flowering stems at the end of flowering, or sometimes even after seed set. They are crisp, sweet and lightly bitter. I don't really understand why the plant would leave appreciable amounts of sugar in the stem when the seeds are already ripe, but it seems they do, at least sometimes, and I'm grateful. I've never eaten any large quantities of them, but they are nice to munch while walking.

Those might not actually be Dandelions.

The flower does not look like a dandelion.

Maybe those are wild lettuce?