Dandelion
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
▲ seedling
▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants
▲ ▼ very large dandelions in Hoonah, Alaska
▲ fruit with long pappus (hairs) that allow wind dispersal when mature
Dandelion:
- rosette forming, simple perennial with deep tap root in the Asteraceae family
- leaf edges deeply toothed (dandelion derived from term meaning "teeth of lion"
- bright yellow flowers (Aster Family)
- native to Europe; brought to U.S. for food and medicinal use
- reproduces readily by seed