Intro: Erect perennial from a rosette of leaves, found in lawns, urban areas, pastures, along roadsides and trails and less commonly in a variety of less disturbed habitats. Native of Eurasia.

Stems: Stems (1 or more) hollow flowering scapes, light green (often reddish near base), smooth to hairy; leaking milky sap when broken.

Leaves: Leaves basal, in a rosette, the blades narrowing into petioles, lance-shaped, 2-15 in. long, deeply divided into many sharp segments, sparsely hairy beneath and on midrib.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary at top of scapes, 1-2 in. wide, consisting of numerous yellow, blunt-tipped ray florets spreading outward from the center; 2 series of linear-lance-shaped, green bracts surround the cylindric base of each head, the outer ones recurved.

Fruits:

Comments: As a children we learn to love the dandelion as a symbol of summer, but as adults we are taught to despise this persistant 'weed'. Anyone who strives to maintain a well-manicured lawn knows that this perennial is highly adapted for survival. The name dandelion is derived from the French dent de lion which means 'tooth of the lion,' referring to the toothed margins of the leaves.

Height: 2-12 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial from a rosette of leaves, found in lawns, urban areas, pastures, along roadsides and trails and less commonly in a variety of less disturbed habitats. Native of Eurasia.

stems: Stems (1 or more) hollow flowering scapes, light green (often reddish near base), smooth to hairy; leaking milky sap when broken.

leaves: Leaves basal, in a rosette, the blades narrowing into petioles, lance-shaped, 2-15 in. long, deeply divided into many sharp segments, sparsely hairy beneath and on midrib.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) solitary at top of scapes, 1-2 in. wide, consisting of numerous yellow, blunt-tipped ray florets spreading outward from the center; 2 series of linear-lance-shaped, green bracts surround the cylindric base of each head, the outer ones recurved.

fruits:

comments: As a children we learn to love the dandelion as a symbol of summer, but as adults we are taught to despise this persistant 'weed'. Anyone who strives to maintain a well-manicured lawn knows that this perennial is highly adapted for survival. The name dandelion is derived from the French dent de lion which means 'tooth of the lion,' referring to the toothed margins of the leaves.

cultural notes: This plant was intentionally introduced into the U.S. by European settlers who used the leaves as a spring green high in vitamins A & C. Native Americans also used the plant as a spring tonic and to cure heartburn and rheumatism.

germination code:

native range: Europe & Asia