Hi Jan,
The seeds look like shuttlecocks. The rest of the stuff is chaff.
Remy

I leave mine on the plant to dry. Never tried bringing it inside while still green.

When mine are brown, I rub them gently with my thumb to see if they feel loose. If so, I pull off the seeds (the outer layer--the inner layer is just chaff.). If they're not loose, I leave them a few more days and try them again. If I wait long enough, I will start seeing some seeds coming away from the seedhead. That's a tell-tale sign that it's time to grab them. Literally--grab them and they'll come off in your hand.

Diana Lynn

I don't think the seed will be viable if you remove the flower heads before they are completely, or almost completely, dry. The flower heads look almost like dandelions when they are ripe - they turn white, and like diana lynn said, the seeds just fall off.

Becky

Ohhhh--- now I get it ! I am having a hard time catching them at the right time, they are either still green or half gone already. I'll just have to watch closer. Thanks ")
jan