Dandelion

Description

This plant can be found growing in temperate regions of the world, in lawns, on roadsides, on disturbed banks and shores of water ways, and other areas with moist soils. T. officinale is considered a weed, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but it is sometimes used as a medical herb and in food preparation the flowers are used to make dandelion wine, the greens are used in salads, the dandelion roots have been used to make a coffee substitute (when baked and ground into powder), so the entire dandelion plant is edible.

Common dandelion is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of silver tufted fruits that disperse in the wind/wind dispersal. These balls are called “blowballs” or “clocks”. It is a food source for the caterpillars of several Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Even though dandelion pollen is of poor nutritional quality for honey bees, they readily consume it., The roots can be used to make a brown dye and the flowers can make a yellow or green dye. Dandelion leaves can also be used to make a loose leaf tea or be used as part of a salad. So the entire plant, minus the stem, is an edible medicinal plant with a wide range of health benefits.