common dandelion (South Georgia Flora)

common dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Summary ²

Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion (often simply called "dandelion"), is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae (Compositae).

The dandelion is a perennial herb with a stout tap root and a basal rosette; stems hollow, unbranched, several per plant. Leaves are lanceolate-obovate; sparsely hairy; sharply lobed and toothed. Flower heads are yellow, compound (daisy-like) flowers >3 cm across; solitary, positioned at the end of stems; leaf-like bracts at the base of flower head - 2 erect inner rows, and an outer row of shorter ones that may be distinctly reflexed. Each fruit is dry, flattened, thin-walled, ribbed, containing a single seed; white pappus of simple hairs; wind dispersed; seeds may be viable in the soil for 5 years or more.

Distribution ³

Widespread along the central north coast.

Comments ⁴

This species could be confused with autumn hawkbit, however the latter has branched stems and the lowermost leaf-like bracts at the base of the flower head are tapered into the stalk.

Sources and Credits

(c) Dorota (Dorothy), some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/92392149@N00/2446486568
Adapted by stuwhiterod from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum_officinale
(c) Kelvin Floyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by stuwhiterod from a work by (c) Kelvin Floyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Group	Forb
Category	Non Native

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