A perennial, native to Europe and W Asia; leaves in a basal rosette, entire or variably lobed and toothed; flower-heads solitary, borne on leafless hollow stems, florets yellow; fruits with a parachute of white hairs attached by a long stalk, the whole fruiting head forming the familiar clock. Many dandelions reproduce from fruits formed without fertilization having taken place, resulting in many distinct populations or microspecies, with over a thousand described from Europe alone. The best-known species, Taraxacum officinale, is a cosmopolitan weed, its young leaves eaten as a salad vegetable, tap roots ground into a coffee substitute, and flower-heads sometimes used for wine-making. (Genus: Taraxacum, c.60 species. Family: Compositae.)
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A dandelion is a short plant, usually with a yellow flower head and notched leaves. A dandelion flower head consists of many tiny flowers. The dandelion is native to Europe and Asia, and has spread to many other places. The dandelion is also known by its generic name Taraxacum. In Northern areas and places where the dandelion is not native, it reproduces asexually.
Description
Dandelion (Taraxacum) is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae.
Dandelions are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera.
Dandelion clock
The flower matures into a globe of fine filaments that are usually distributed by wind, carrying away the seed-containing achenes. This globe (receptacle) is called the "dandelion clock", and blowing it apart is a popular pastime for children.
Seeds
The flower head is surrounded by bracts (sometimes mistakenly called sepals) in two series.
Name
The name dandelion is derived from the Old French, dent-de-lion, which is literally "lion's tooth", referring to the sharply-lobed leaves of the plant. The first written usage of the word occurs in an "herbal" dated 1373, but there is a 1363 document in which the word "dandelion" was used as a proper name (Willelmus Dawndelyon). vulgare), Common Dandelion. Found in many forms, but differs at least from the following species: Taraxacum albidum, a white-flowering Japanese dandelion. Taraxacum japonicum, Japanese dandelion.
Seed development and genetics
As aforementioned, the taxonomical situation of the genus is quite complex, mainly because many dandelions are genetically triploid. An odd number of chromosomes usually is associated with sterility, but dandelions with this karyotype can reproduce without fertilization, a process called apomixis. Diploid dandelions develop seeds after cross-pollination and are self-incompatible. In most zones of southern Europe and Asia, dandelion populations are sexual or mixed sexual-apomictic, while in northern countries only triploid and tetraploid apomicts are present, as is in the zones where it is not native.
There are usually 54 to 172 seeds produced per head, but a single plant can produce more than 2000 seeds a year. It has been estimated that more than 97 000 000 seeds/hectare could be produced every year by a dense stand of dandelions.
Uses
While the dandelion is considered a weed by many gardeners, the plant does have several culinary and medicinal uses. Dandelions are grown commercially at a small scale as a leaf vegetable. Dandelion salad is often accompanied with hard boiled eggs.
Dandelion flowers can be used to make dandelion wine. Another recipe using the plant is dandelion flower jam. Ground roasted dandelion root can be used as a coffee substitute.
Dandelion root is a registered drug in Canada, sold as a diuretic. A new mixture of roasted roots is sold as a product called DandyBlend which tastes like coffee after the inulin in the dandelion is roasted.
"Dandelion and Burdock" is a soft drink that has long been popular in the United Kingdom with authentic recipes are sold by health food shops, but it is not clear whether the cheaper supermarket versions actually contain either plant.
This plant also is useful in farming, because its deep, strong roots break up hardpan.
Antioxidant properties
Dandelion contains Luteolin, an antioxidant, and has demonstrated antioxidant properties without cytotoxicity. Luteolin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside from dandelion flower suppress iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells.
Caffeic acid and carcinogenicity
Caffeic acid is a secondary plant metabolite produced in dandelion, yarrow, horsetail and whitethorn.
False dandelions
Dandelions are so similar to catsears (Hypochoeris) that catsears are also known as "false dandelions". However, catsear flowering stems are forked and solid, whereas dandelions possess unforked stems that are hollow. However, the leaves of dandelions are jagged in appearance, whereas those of catsear are more lobe-shaped and hairy.
Other plants with similar flowers include hawkweeds (Hieracium) and hawksbeards (Crepis). How to cook dandelions ~ at Wikibooks Dandelion Poetry, Folklore, Literature, and Pictures Dandelion at Plants For A Future Herbal Medicine Uses for Dandelions a university of Wisconsin article on dandelions SpringerLink. Luteolin and luteolin-7-O-glucoside from dandelion flower suppress iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells. ^ A list of Lepidoptera which feed on dandelions. ^ http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/section2.html#vestiges ^ An article about dandelion nutrition.
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