Leaf
Salicyna, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Also known as: Common dandelion
Family: Asteraceae
10 to 30 cm tall
Meadows, lawns, path verges, waste ground
Flowering: March – October
Full sun
Part shade
Very hardy, to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
White, bitter latex that flows as soon as a stem or leaf is broken.
🍃 Leaves
In a rosette, deeply cut into pointed teeth
🌸 Flowers
Large bright yellow flower head on a hollow stem
🍎 Fruits
Achenes topped with a white pappus forming the famous blowball
🪵 Bark
Hollow stem releasing a white latex when broken
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, temperate Asia; extremely common throughout France, in meadows, lawns and waste ground.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very early yellow flower heads, an essential source of nectar and pollen for bees emerging from winter.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Little grown as an ornamental, often regarded as a weed; leaves harvested as a wild salad.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity, edible plant (leaves, flowers, root).
🌿 Other Asteraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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