Taraxacum albidum

Dahlst.

Japanese dandelion, White dandelion

Asteraceae Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Root 299 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Taraxacum albidum is a species of dandelion that grows in eastern Eurasia. A member of the Asteraceae, it is a perennial herbaceous plant native to southern Japan. It is sometimes mistaken for Taraxacum coreanum, but T. coreanum grows wild chiefly in the Korean Peninsula and some parts of China. Taraxacum albidum is a hybrid between T. coreanum and Taraxacum japonicum (Tatsuyoshi Morita, Moleculer phylodenetic analysis of polyoloid complex of East Asian Taraxacum [sic], 1996-1997).

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a taproot. The leaves are in a ring near the base. The leaves have deep lobes. The flower stalks are hollow and 40 cm tall. This produces a flower head with white ray florets. The fruit is single seeded and produced asexually.

Edible Uses

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, though they have a rather bitter flavour and are valued as a tonic for the digestive system. The root can be cooked. Flowers can be eaten raw or cooked, and unopened flower buds work well in fritters. The whole plant can be dried and used as a tea, and a pleasant tea can also be made from the flowers alone; leaves and roots are similarly suitable for tea. The root is dried and roasted to make a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

The flowers are eaten after light boiling. The roots are parboiled and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

Prefers a well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun or light shade. Isozyme analysis suggests that this species is uniclonal and of unique hybrid origin between T. japonicum and an unknown tetraploid species. Many species in this genus produce their seed apomictically. This is an asexual method of seed production where each seed is genetically identical to the parent plant. Occasionally seed is produced sexually, the resulting seedlings are somewhat different to the parent plants and if these plants are sufficiently distinct from the parents and then produce apomictic seedlings these seedlings are, in theory at least, a new species.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a cold frame, either surface-sowing or covering only very lightly, keeping the compost consistently moist. Germination should occur within two weeks. Prick seedlings into individual pots — choosing relatively deep pots to accommodate the taproot — when large enough to handle, and plant out in early summer. Division can be done in early spring as the plant comes into growth.

Other Uses

None known.

Other Information

It is occasionally grown as a food plant.

Notes

There are 50-60 Taraxacum species. This is probably a cross between Taraxacum coreanum and Taraxacum japonicum. It has 5 sets of chrosomes.

References (4)

Lim, T. K., Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants Volume 7 Flowers
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 80
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Wikipedia Edible plants.