Ontario Weeds: Dandelion
Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Related Links
Name: Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
Weber,
Other Names: pissenlit, dent-de-lion,
pissenlit officinal
Family: Composite or Aster Family (Compositae)
General Description: Perennial, reproducing
only by seed.
Photos and Pictures
Dandelion. A. Plant. G. 1 "seed".
B-F. Variations in shape and lobing of leaves on different plants.
B-F. Variations in shape and lobing of leaves on different plants.
Stems & Roots: Leaves in a basal
rosette on a thick, deeply penetrating taproot, elongated, deeply
and irregularly lobed along each side or sometimes just shallowly
toothed, the amount and shape of lobing or toothing being extremely
variable from one plant to another.
Flowers & Fruit: Flower heads
showy, bright yellow, 3.2-5cm (1¼-2in.) across, borne singly
on long, smooth, leafless, unbranched, hollow stalks which arise
from among the rosette leaves; only ray (strap-shaped) florets present;
outer row of involucral bracts short and spreading or bent down;
seed heads white, more or less spherical, 3.5-5cm (1½-2in.)
across; seeds long, slender with a slender beak tipped with a tuft
of white hair (pappus or "parachute"); whole plant with
sticky white juice. Flowers from early spring to late autumn.
Habitat: Dandelion occurs throughout
Ontario in virtually every kind of habitat, from openings in deep
woods to cultivated fields, from rocky hillsides to fertile gardens,
and lawns.
Similar Species: It is distinguished from
other plants with milky juice and lobed or divided leaves in rosette
stage by the soft texture and irregular lobing of leaves, the absence
of prickles on margins or midribs, the smooth or softly hairy leaf
surfaces, and a deeply penetrating taproot. Flowering plants are
distinguished by their large yellow flower heads with only ray (strap-shaped)
florets and borne singly on long, unbranched, leafless, hollow stalks
which arise from among the rosette leaves, these followed by white,
spherical seed heads up to 5cm (2in.) in diameter.
Related Links
| Back
to the Ontario Weeds Gallery |
