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Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
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Native
Family:
Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Height: 0.25 to 1.5 ft.
Blooms: March to
September
Leaf Type:
toothed
Bloom Size: 1.5 in. (typical)
Flower Description:
Individual flowers,
Parts indistinct
Location: Youghiogheny River Trail
Date: 4/10/2004
Common Dandelion may be
easily confused with:
- Canada Hawkweed
Dandelion has a hollow stem with conspicuous milky sap, and raggedly toothed basal leaves. The hawkweed has a thinner stem and lightly toothed ovate leaves.
- Cat's Ear
The leaves of cat's ear are hairy, while dandelion leaves are smooth. The dandelion has a distinctive hollow stem with milky sap.
- Coltsfoot
Dandelion stems are hollow with milky sap. Coltsfoot stems have reddish scales.
- Large Mouse-Ear Hawkweed
Dandelion leaves are smooth and sharply toothed. Large Mouse-Ear Hawkweek leaves are hairy and fairly smooth.
- Mouse-Ear Hawkweed
Dandelion leaves are smooth and sharply toothed. Mouse-Ear Hawkweek leaves are hairy and fairly smooth.
Folklore, History, and Other Facts
The following information is taken from my great-grandmother's copy of
The Herbalist (1918).
This information is presented for historic purposes only, as many remedies recommended by this book
are toxic!
We started out as wildflowers from the bicycle trails of western Pennsylvania, but we've
grown!
Meyer, Joseph E. (1918). The Herbalist and Herb Doctor. Hammond, Ind.: Indiana Herb Gardens. 400 pp.
