Summary

Overview
A well known wild flower, the genus Taraxacum is a genus containing many species. It can be found growing in fields, gardens, hedgerows, roadsides and is often considered a weed. They have tap roots which means they can be very persistant and hard to remove. The name originates from the latin translation into french dent-de-lion, lions tooth, down to the shape of the leaves.

The leaves can be used as a tea or salad leaves and the root can be processed to make a coffee. It has duretic properties (known in the playground to make you wet the bed).

Good plant to know due to its abundance and ease of harvesting. (The leaves that is, the root takes more processing)

Gallery and Identification

Flowers - Yellow or orange. Out in the day but close at night.
Stem - Straight and hollow. Haireless. Produce a white latex substance when cut.
Leaves - Vary from 5cm to 25cm between species and on growing conditions. Lobed.
Seeds - The flower head matures into a sepherical head of seeds that are distributed by the wind.
Height - Up to 40cm tall.
Distribution - Widespread in temperate regions.

Resources

• Help with fluid retention

Food

• Leaves
• Roots