Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Table of Contents
The golden yellow flowers and distinctive seed heads ‘clocks’ make the dandelion one of the most recognisable wildflowers. Often considered a weed, but it has many uses, both medicinal and culinary. It’s also a valuable source of pollen and nectar for pollinators.
Plant family: Asteraceae
Aliases: Blow ball, fairy clock, lion’s teeth
Flowering period: March – October
Flower colour: Yellow
Soil type: March – October
Habitat: Grassland, roadside verges, waste areas, turf
Status: Common
General information
A common, herbaceous perennial wildflower with many uses that’s a member of the daisy family and one of the most familiar plants in the UK. Dandelions thrive in all types of grasslands from managed turf to roadside verges and meadows, growing to a maximum height of 40cm.
It’s considered a serious weed to gardeners because of it’s ability to grow in lawns and it can be a difficult plant to eradicate. It’s often confused with catsear, hawkbit and hawkweed, all of which favour similar habitats. Although they will grow in all types of soil they prefer free draining, humus-rich , slightly alkaline soil in full sun or semi shade.
Identification
Flowers: Distinctive golden – yellow solitary flowers borne on hollow, leafless stems, the stems exude a white, latex when crushed. The flowers measure between 2 – 6cm in diameter and are made up entirely of ray florets, opening during daylight hours, before closing again under darkness.
The flowers eventually mature into globoid seed heads commonly known as ‘clocks’. The clocks contain hundreds are airborne seeds, which are dispersed in the wind.
Leaves: Dandelions have narrow – lanceolate leaves that form as a basal rosette over a deep, central taproot. The leaf edges are deeply toothed (dandelion means ‘lions tooth’) and the surface is hairless, unlike catsear which has similar leaves. They grow between 5cm to 25cm in length.
Value for wildlife
The flowers are rich in both pollen and nectar and attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, hoverflies and various species of moth.
Uses for dandelion
All parts of dandelion are edible, the flowers, leaves and roots. The flowers can be used for making tea, juices, fritters and wine.
The leaves are extremely nutritious as they’re packed full of vitamins, although can taste quite bitter. However, they can be used in a mixed salad to reduce the bitterness. They can be cooked and made into a soup.
The roots, which are also quite bitter, can be cooked and is said to have a turnip like taste. The can be roasted and ground into a a powder and used to make an alternative to coffee.
The dandelion has medicinal properties and is a commonly used herbal remedy. It ha sbeen used to treat blood pressure, liver illness and diabetes.
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