Dandelion

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Dandelion (Taraxacum) is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are tap-rooted biennial or perennial herbaceous plants, native to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere and also temperate southern South America. The genus is taxonomically very complex, with numerous apomictic microspecies, and polyploidy is also common; over 250 species have been recorded in the British Isles alone (Richards 1972). Some botanists take a much broader viewpoint, and only accept a total of about 60 species.

Related Topics:
Genus - Flowering plant - Family - Asteraceae - Tap-rooted - Biennial - Perennial - Herbaceous - Temperate - Northern Hemisphere - South America - Taxonomically - Apomictic - Polyploidy - British Isles

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The leaves are 5-25 cm long, simple and basal, entire or lobed, forming a rosette above the central taproot. A bright yellow flower head is borne singly on a hollow stem (scape) which rises 4-30 cm above the leaves and exudes a milky sap (latex) when broken. A rosette may produce several flowering stems at a time. The flower head is 2-5 cm diameter and consists entirely of ray florets; it matures into a globe of fine filaments that are usually distributed by wind, carrying away the seed-containing achenes. This globe (receptacle) is called the "dandelion clock", and blowing it apart is a popular pastime for children. The flower head is surrounded by bracts (sometimes mistakenly called sepals) in two series. The inner bracts are erect until the seeds mature, then flex down to allow the seeds to disperse; the outer bracts are always reflexed downward. Some species drop the "parachute" (called a pappus, modified sepals) from the achenes.

Related Topics:
Leaves - Flower head - Sap - Latex - Floret - Achene - Bract

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The name dandelion is a derivation of the Old French, dent-de-lion, literally "lion's tooth" on account of the sharply lobed leaves of the plant. In modern French the plant is called pissenlit, "urinate in bed", referring to its diuretic properties. Likewise, "pissabeds" is an English folkname for this plant.

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;Species

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• Taraxacum officinale (syn. T. vulgare), Common Dandelion. Found in many forms, but differs at least from the following species:
• Taraxacum albidum, a white-flowering Japanese dandelion.
• Taraxacum japonicum, Japanese dandelion. No ring of smallish, downward-turned leaves under the flowerhead.
• Taraxacum laevigatum (syn. T. erythrospermum), Red-seeded Dandelion; achenes reddish brown and leaves deeply cut throughout length. Inner bracts' tips are hooded.
• and others.

Dandelions are so similar to catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) that catsear is also known as "False Dandelion". Both plants carry similar flowers which form into windborne seeds. However, catsear flowering stems are forked and solid, whereas dandelions possess unforked stems that are hollow. Both plants have a rosette of leaves and a central taproot. However, the leaves of dandelions are jagged in appearance, whereas those of catsear are more lobe-shaped and hairy. Both plants have similar uses.

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Dandelions are used as a food plant by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera such as Small Fan-footed Wave, Riband Wave and The Flame.

Related Topics:
Larva - Lepidoptera - Small Fan-footed Wave - Riband Wave - The Flame

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Dandelion: Cultivation ►