Taraxacum hondoense

Nakai. & Koidz.

Asteraceae Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Root 3 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A compact perennial reaching 0.3 m (1 foot) in height, flowering from March to May. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile with insect pollination. Establishes in sandy, loamy, or clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH and prefers moist soil. Grows in semi-shaded or sunny locations.

Description

Edible Uses

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The root is also edible when cooked, and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked — unopened buds work well in fritters. The dried whole plant makes a serviceable tea, and a pleasant tea can also be brewed from the flowers alone; leaves and roots are equally suitable for tea-making. The root is dried and roasted to produce a coffee substitute. Note that specific records for this species are limited, and several of these uses are inferred from closely related taxa.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Japan,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a well-drained humus-rich soil in full sun or light shade. 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; keep the compost consistently moist. Germination typically occurs within two weeks. Prick seedlings into individual pots deep enough to accommodate the taproot, then plant out in early summer. The plant can also be propagated by division in early spring as growth resumes.