I work in a garden center and recently had a customer describe a plant he has been looking for. It sounds familiar but I can't quite place it. Here is his description:

His mother grew this in her garden when he was a little boy (he's 80 now!). He and his friends used the seed pod in their pea shooters and to flick at each other in summer games.

The plant grew about 2-21/2' tall with tiny red flowers, not daisy-like but sort of open like. (his description!). The seed pods that followed were black, rounded, with a white tip where they fell from the plant. The seed pod had striations in it like the root beer candy barrels.

He has been searching for this plant for years, across the country. (he grew up in the Miami Valley).

Anybody have any ideas?