These are the fruits of a plant called (Plantago spec. - English name?) Wegerich. These (what is the equivalent of "inflorescence" after the flowers have turned into seeds?)  can often be found by mid summer or towards its end. The brown, dry stem with a bunch of brown dry fruits is of no interest for most animals. Some chaffinches or sparrows may pick up the the seeds after they have ripened and fallen from the (inflorescence).

You may move forward through this story by clicking on the double arrow in the switchboard below or arbitrarily select any chapter: