About Dandelions
The dandelion is considered a weed, a flower, or a vegetable depending on your point of view. Dandelions are capable of growing in great numbers and they are a sure sign of Spring throughout their locations. Dandelions go by other names such as lion's tooth and priest's crown and although homeowners desire to rid their lawn of them they have many benefits and are edible.
Features
The dandelion is officially categorized as a weed. They thrive in moist areas that have full sun but can also grow in the shade and where it is dry. They possess a long root called a taproot which is capable of going deep into the soil, sometimes as far as 3 feet, to find water, enabling the dandelion to make it through dry spells. Buds will grow from the top portion of the root so even if you were to cut the dandelion off at soil level it will regenerate. The leaves of a dandelion are not on a stem but rather grow in clusters at the base of the plant called a rosette.
Size
The leaves on a dandelion can be as long as 14 inches and they are serrated, giving them the appearance of teeth; dandelion means "tooth of the lion." The stalks that the flowers grow on are anywhere from 6 inches to 2 feet long. The head of the dandelion is comprised of 100 to 300 separate flowers that are bright yellow that look as if they form one single unit.
Function
Dandelions can bloom year round in warmer climates. Dandelions can produce up to 20,000 seeds which are dispersed by the wind when the flowers die off and the plant goes to seed, which can happen seemingly overnight. The seeds have what scientists call a pappus, which is like a parachute that allows the seed to be blown about and carried by the wind, landing somewhere where it can then germinate and grow.
Benefits
While dandelions are considered a pesky weed when they crop up on a lawn they have many benefits. They are a plant that attracts ladybugs and provides them with a source of nourishment, with the ladybugs in turn keeping pest populations such as aphids in check. Their long taproots aerate the soil and take minerals up into the plants which are returned to the ground when the dandelion dies. Dandelions can be eaten and studies have shown that they are rich in vitamin B,C, and D as well as iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus.
Types
The entire dandelion can be used as a source of food. The roots have been used for making tea or are eaten after they have been peeled and boiled, with some people saying they resemble turnips in taste. The leaves are cooked and used in salads, with the best time to harvest them in the early spring before they acquire a bitter taste. The flowers are even used to produce dandelion wine and the milky sap found in the flower stalk and roots has been used as a remedy for warts.
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