Taraxacum laevigatum - (Willd.)DC.
(Willd.)DC.
Red-Seed Dandelion, Rock dandelion
gbif· cc-by-nc-nd
Othmar Ortner
gbif· cc-by-nc-nd
Othmar Ortner
gbif· cc-by-nc-nd
Othmar Ortner
Description
Taraxacum laevigatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is in flower from April to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Apomictic (reproduce by seeds formed without sexual fusion). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Edible Uses
Tea. Leaves - raw or cooked. The following uses are also probably applicable to this species, though we have no records for them Root - cooked. Flowers - raw or cooked. The unopened flower buds can be used in fritters. The whole plant is dried and used as a tea. A pleasant tea is made from the flowers. The leaves and the roots can also be used to make tea. The root is dried and roasted to make a coffee substitute.
Distribution
Most of Europe, including Britain.
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Kazakhstan TROPICAL ASIA: India (Jammu and Kashmir), Pakistan EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco
Cultivation
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
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and either surface-sow or only just cover the seed. Make sure the compost does not dry out. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, choosing relatively deep pots to accommodate the tap root. Plant them out in early summer. Division in early spring as the plant comes into growth.
