Taraxacum officinale

Taraxacum officinale, the dandelion or common dandelion, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The common dandelion is well-known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of many silver-tufted fruit, which disperse in the wind. These balls are sometimes called "clocks" or "blowballs". Originally native to Eurasia, as a result of its hardiness and easy propagation, the dandelion has become widely established across several continents. It has been introduced to southern Africa, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. It grows in temperate regions of the world in areas with moist soils. They are able to grow in a variety of environments and are tolerant of crowding, extreme temperatures, and low moisture. The dandelion is often considered a weed, especially in lawns, but it is increasingly being recognised in its native regions as useful for attracting birds and pollinating insects. In one study, it ranked as the fourth most important source of pollen. Although dandelion pollen is considered to be an early food resource for some emerging pollinators in spring, it has also been found to lack certain essential nutrients and can lead to declining brood health for bees. The leaves, flowers, and roots are sometimes used as food and in herbal medicine.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows to 10 cm high. The leaves are at the base. They grow in a ring. The leaves vary in shape. They are narrowly oblong but divided into irregular leaflets along the stalk. They have teeth along the edge. The lobes point backwards towards the leaf bases. The flower heads are yellow. They occur singly. They are on a hollow leafless stalk. It is unbranched. The fruit is dry.

Edible Uses

Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They are somewhat bitter in salads, though less so in winter, and tender young leaves are considerably milder than older ones. Blanching the growing plant by excluding light reduces bitterness further, though it also lowers vitamin and mineral content. The leaves are highly nutritious: 100g raw contains approximately 2.7g protein, 9.2g carbohydrate, 187mg calcium, 66mg phosphorus, 3.1mg iron, 76mg sodium, 397mg potassium, 36mg magnesium, 14,000 IU vitamin A, 0.19mg vitamin B1, 0.26mg vitamin B2, and 35mg vitamin C. The root is edible raw or cooked, with a bitter, turnip-like flavour. Flowers can be eaten raw or cooked; their flavour is rather bitter, but unopened buds work well in fritters and can also be preserved in vinegar as a caper substitute. Both leaves and roots are used to flavour herbal beers and soft drinks such as dandelion and burdock. Roots from two-year-old plants, harvested in autumn, dried and roasted, make an excellent caffeine-free coffee substitute. Flowers brew a pleasant tea and can be made into wine — all green parts should be removed during wine-making to avoid bitterness. Leaves and roots are also suitable for tea on their own.

Traditional Uses

The tender leaves and enjoyed as a potherb. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. They are fried in oil. The leaves are used in a fermented Korean dish called Kimchi. The roots can be baked in a slow oven until brown, and brittle. They are then ground up and then perked like coffee. They can also be boiled and eaten. They are used in soups. The flowers can be dipped in batter and fried. They have also be used for wine. They are also used to flavour drinks. CAUTION: The drug taraxacum is a mild laxative. Sprouted seeds can be eaten. The pollen is used as a food colouring.

Medicinal Uses

Dandelion is a widely used herbal remedy, particularly valued as a diuretic because its high potassium content replaces the potassium lost when diuretics are taken. All parts of the plant, especially the root, are mildly aperient, cholagogue, depurative, strongly diuretic, hepatic, laxative, stomachic, and tonic. The root is also experimentally cholagogue, hypoglycaemic, and a weak antibiotic against yeast infections; the dried root has a weaker action overall. Roots should be harvested in autumn from two-year-old plants and can be used fresh or dried. Leaves are best harvested in spring when the plant is flowering and can be dried for later use. Tea can be made from the leaves or, more commonly, from the roots. The plant is used internally for gall bladder and urinary disorders, gallstones, jaundice, cirrhosis, dyspepsia with constipation, oedema linked to high blood pressure and heart weakness, chronic joint and skin complaints, gout, eczema, and acne. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus, Pneumococci, Meningococci, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, C. diphtheriae, and Proteus, among others. The latex from the plant sap can be applied to corns, warts, and verrucae, and has a specific action on gall bladder inflammation; it is also believed to help dissolve stones in the liver. A tea made from the leaves is laxative. The German Commission E Monographs approve Taraxacum officinale for dyspepsia, urinary tract infections, liver and gallbladder complaints, and appetite loss.

Known Hazards

This plant has been mentioned in various books on poisonous plants but any possible toxins will be of very low concentration and toxicity. There are reports that some people have suffered dermatitis as a result of touching the plant, this is probably caused by the latex in the leaves and stems.

Distribution

It grows in temperate places. It grows in lawns and on roadsides. It grows in damp cool sites. In Java it grows between 1,200-1,500 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. In the Himalayas it grows between 3,200-4,600 m above sea level. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Andes, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Balkans, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Congo DR, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Estonia, Eswatini, Europe, Falklands, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America*, Northeastern India, Norway, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Sikkim, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tibet, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies,

Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils, though it prefers a well-drained humus-rich neutral to alkaline soil in full sun or light shade. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -29°c. The dandelion is a common weed of lawns and grassy places. Though it has a bitter flavour, the plant is often cultivated as a salad crop and as a medicinal plant, especially in parts of Europe. There are some named varieties with larger, more tender and less bitter leaves. Dandelions can provide edible leaves all year round, especially if they are given a small amount of protection in the winter. A valuable bee plant and an important food plant for the caterpillars of many butterfly and moth species, it grows well in a spring meadow. A deep rooting plant, it has roots up to 1 metre long and brings up nutrients from lower levels of the soil. An excellent plant to grow in lawns, if the lawn is cut no more than fortnightly then the dandelions will provide a good quantity of edible leaves. Grows well with alfalfa. Another report says that it inhibits the growth of nearby plants. This is probably a reference to the fact that the plant gives off ethylene gas, this gas is a hormone that promotes the premature ripening of fruits and also induces the premature fruiting of plants, thereby stunting their growth. T. officinale is not a valid name for this species, but no valid name has as yet been ascribed to it. This is actually an aggregate species of many hundreds of slightly differing species. Most seed production is apomictic which means that plants produce seed non-sexually and all seedlings are clones of the parent, thus small differences are maintained. The leaves can be harvested in early spring to late autumn (March to November, Northern Hemisphere), while the roots are typically harvested in late autumn (September to November). Dandelions typically flower from early spring to early summer (April to June, Northern Hemisphere). Dandelions grow rapidly and can establish themselves within a few weeks, often appearing shortly after the last frost in spring.

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, though two weeks of cold stratification may improve results. 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.

Other Uses

Dandelions are useful in agroforestry settings: their deep taproots help aerate the soil, they attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and they can serve as ground cover contributing to soil improvement. The flowers are an ingredient in the 'QR' herbal compost activator — a dried, powdered herbal mixture added to compost heaps to boost bacterial activity and shorten composting time. A liquid plant feed can be made from the roots and leaves. A low-quality latex suitable for rubber production can be obtained from the roots. A magenta-brown dye is obtained from the root. The plant releases ethylene gas, which stunts nearby plant growth and causes premature fruit ripening. A distilled water made from the ligules is used cosmetically to clear the skin and is particularly effective at fading freckles. The plant acts as a dynamic accumulator, drawing minerals and nutrients from the soil and storing them in a more bioavailable form for use as fertiliser or mulch. Dandelion flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, making them an excellent food source for bees and other pollinators. Wildlife benefits from the leaves, flowers, and seeds — the last of which can feed birds — and leaf litter offers some shelter for small insects and overwintering invertebrates.

Other Information

The leaves and flowers are foraged and used in restaurants in Sweden. It is cultivated.

Notes

There are 50-60 Taraxacum species. Contains sugars, organic acids, fatty acids and tocopherols. The flowers are rich in sugars, tocopherols and flavonoids (mainly luteolin, oxhezide and luteolin). Source of calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Achicoria, Amargon, Amargosa, Angelets, Arvirasu, Baran, Barau, Beroberoka, Bo cong anh, Chicoria, Cow-parsnip, Diente di leone, Dia dinh, Diente de leon, Dudh-batthal, Dudhla, Dudli, Dulal, Foun, Gingseng jawa, Girasole, Girasu, Gluharche, Gluvarche, Hand, Huentrai, Jungali copi, Kaadu seventhi, Kanphul, Karabindiba, Khatutik, Koki, Kutwane, Leche leche, Lechuguila, Lion's tooth, Lowenzahn, Marpourcin, Maslacak, Mlecz, Oduvanchik, Paardenbloem, Pathardi, Pathri, Piene, Pienenes, Piscialletto, Pissenlit, Pitachumki, Poupa, Qumstore, Radam, Radicchiello, Radicha, Radicheta, Radika, Rasuke, Saghvidzla, Seaoitsed, Secorio, Seoyangmindeulre, Shamukei, Shershi, Su nha, Tarassaco, Taraxaco, Tawao, Thuki phool, Troyache, Umashwababa, Undarkani, Uqudalele, Virasoulei, Voilill, Yamaghi kha, Zicoria burda

References (180)

• Abbet, C., et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical survey on wild alpine food plants in Lower and Central Valais (Switzerland). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 151 (2014) 624–634
• Agarwal, R. & Chandra, V., 2019, Diversity of wild edible plants in the Mandal-Chopta forest, Uttarakhand. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2019; 7(1): 89-92
• Aipeisova S.A., et al, 2019, Wild useful herbs of Aktobe Region (Western Kazakhstan). Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 9(3), 329-331
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 621
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 46

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