Taraxacum officinale

Common name: Common Dandelion
Family: Asteraceae -Aster family
Size: to 50 cm or more.

Inflorescence:

• Head solitary at the end of hollow stalk.
• Yellow ray florets- spread outward from the center
•  No disk florets

• Inner bracts- linear or linear-lanceolate, forms a cylindrical tube around the ovaries
• Outer bract- linear lanceolate, curved downward

Stems:

• Very short, underground

Leaves:

• stem produces a rosette of leaves at the base
• up to 40 cm long
• lobes leaves, broader toward its outer tip
• lobes are triangular
• prominent central vein
• may be hairy

• Hollow stalk contains milky juice.

 For a picture of its fruit and seed, click here

More information:

Edible parts:

Young leaves for tea

Flower produce wine

Medicinal use:

 For the treatment of inflammation