Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Also Known As: Faceclock, Blowball
Plant Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)

Identification Guide: *Print version
Phenophase Field Guide: *Print version

2009 Live Map - View

Did you Know? The popular name comes from dent de lion, French for “lion’s tooth,” referring to the distinctive teeth on the leaves. The tender young leaves, rich in vitamins and minerals, make good salad or cooked greens. The mildly laxative and diuretic leaves have been used in medicinal teas, digestive aids, wine, and rustic beers. It originated in Europe and is one of the most widely distributed plants. Dandelion is particularly efficient in producing seeds because it does so without pollination (this also explains why it can make seeds so early in the season).

Identification Hints: Dandelions are one of the most common and easily identifiable weeds in the country. They have bright yellow heads that turn into round balls of silver tufted seeds, with no leaves on the flower stem. The leaves are distinctive in having a large lobe at the tip, and many sharply pointed outward-facing teeth or lobes along the sides.

Phenological Observations of Interest: First Flower, End of Flowering, First Ripe Fruit, All Leaves Withered

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2009 Live Map for Common dandelion

Below you can view the latest 100 observations that have been reported in 2009 for Common dandelion (If the map below is empty then there have not been any 2009 observations reported.)

Use the navigation buttons on the left to zoom in/out and pan around. Click on each place marker to get detail information about that observation.

= First Flower
= End of Flowering
= First Ripe Fruit
= All Leaves Withered

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