Rural Perspectives: The dandelion has a long history of success
by Diane Constable
The dandelion is a common, nonnative plant with quite an interesting history. Its scientific name is Taraxacum officinale, otherwise known as the common dandelion, and it is one of the most successful plants in the world.
It belongs to the composite family of flowers, and is related to daisies, asters and sunflowers. The long rays of the bloom surround the center, which has up to 200 tightly clumped individual flowers called florets. Although the plant produces pollen, it is not needed to fertilize the seed. The seed holds a tiny bud of the parent plant, which will develop into an identical plant. When the seeds mature, they create a silken “parachute” and are dispersed by the wind or a human blowing on the seed head while making a wish. The French thought the jagged leaves looked like lions’ teeth and named it the dent-de-lion (tooth of the lion). The roots are deep—up to 25 feet, which help bring deep-down nutrients up to the surface soils.
It is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, feeding hungry bees, butterflies and other insects. Birds eat the seeds and larvae live off the leaves. Deer, rabbits and other small animals feast on the blooms and leaves.
The dandelion originated in Eurasia and was brought to this country probably on the Mayflower, where the plant was used for food and medicine. The dandelion has been used as a tonic for thousands of years, treating anything from warts to livers. In modern times, it has been found that the fresh greens, which can be used in a salad, have many vitamins, including vitamins A, C, E and K. The greens also contain minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and manganese. The flowers are used to make tea and wine, while the roots can be ground and brewed as a coffee substitute.Fun Fact: Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks grew dandelions for their beauty as well as their usefulness. The dandelions were garden flowers in Europe, and American settlers often kept the flowers in vases to decorate their homes.
As an avid photographer, Diane Constable regularly puts her formal education in both nature and photography to good use. Diane also enjoys gardening and her dogs. She serves on the board of the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club and is editor of the club’s newsletter.
