A cypsela is a dry, one-seeded fruit that develops from an inferior ovary. In many plants, particularly those in the Asteraceae family (like sunflowers and dandelions), the cypsela is equipped with a pappus(a structure consisting of fine, feathery hairs or bristles). This pappus acts like a parachute, increasing the fruit's surface area and buoyancy, allowing it to be easily carried and dispersed by the wind over long distances.