Common Dandelion - World Crops Database

Common dandelion - Photo by Fyntastic Photography

Often considered a weed, the common dandelian can also be used as a medical herb and as food. Dandelion leaves can be collected from the wild but are also sometimes grown to be used as a leaf vegetable. Young leaves and unopened buds are used raw in salads. Older leaves are cooked.

Names

Scientific
   Taraxacum officinale
English
   Blowball
   Common dandelion
   Dandelion
   Dandelion greens
   Irish daisy
   Lion's-tooth
   Puff-ball
Dutch
   Molsla
   Paardenbloem
Spanish
   Achicoria amarga
   Diente de león
   Meacamas
German
   Gewöhnlicher Löwenzahn
   Löwenzahn
Italian
   Dente di cane
   Dente di leone
   Taràssaco comune

Taxonomy

Order
   Asterales
Family
   Asteraceae
Genus
   Taraxacum
Species
   Taraxacum officinale (Common dandelion)

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Africa, Asia and Europe.

Distribution:

Common dandelions are found in areas with temperate climate.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Dandelions are perennial plants.

Flowers:

Each flowering stem has one single yellow flower head.

Leaves:

The leaves are usually 5 to 30 cm long and 1 to 10 cm wide. Leaf margins are shallowly or deeply lobed and often toothed with sharp or dull teeth, hence the name lion’s-tooth.

Plant:

The dandelion plant grows from an unbranched taproots and has one to ten stems.

Climate and weather:

Temperate climate.

Height:

Flower stems are usually 5 to 30 cm tall.

Propagation:

By seed

Harvesting:

Pick young leaves and unopened buds.

Uses:

Young dandelion leaves and unopened buds are used raw in salads. Older leaves are used for cooking. Dandelion flowers are used to make dandelion wine. Dandelion roots are ground and roasted to be used as a coffee substitute.
Dandelion flowers and lemon can be used to make a syrup (May-honey) which is believed to be effective to treat liver problems.

Pictures

Common dandelion - Photo by
Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble

Common dandelion - Photo by Harry Rose

Common dandelion - Photo by Paul Van Der Werf

Dandelion greens -
Photo by Darya Pino

Dandelion greens for salad - Photo by Amber DeGrace