in Thoreau’s Journal:

Near the end of causeway, milkweed is copiously discounting….It apparently bursts its pods after rain especially (as yesterday’s), opening on the underside away from succeeding rains.  Half a dozen seeds or more, attached by the tips of their silks to the core of the pod, will be blown about there a long time before a strong puff launches them away, and in the meanwhile they are expanding and drying their silk.

Photo: October 25, 2014 at Chicks Corner, Sandwich, New Hampshire