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Dandelion
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Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameDandelion
DescriptionUbiquitous perennial featuring bright golden-yellow composite flowers that transform into iconic spherical seed heads (blowballs or puffballs) beloved by children for wish-making. Every part is useful: young leaves are nutritious salad greens, roots make coffee substitute, flowers produce wine, and plant has extensive medicinal uses. Though often considered a lawn weed, dandelions are among the first spring flowers providing crucial early nectar for pollinators, and one of nature's most nutritious wild edibles.
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusTaraxacum
TribeCichorieae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaBr % ⚥ K0 C(5) A(5) G(2)

Composite flower head (capitulum) with only ray florets (ligulate). Bracteate, bilaterally symmetrical, bisexual, no sepals (modified into pappus of feathery bristles for seed dispersal), 5 fused petals forming strap-shaped ligule with 5 teeth, 5 fused stamens forming tube around style, 2 fused carpels with inferior ovary

Features
  • Name 'dandelion' from French 'dent-de-lion' (lion's tooth) for jagged leaf edges. 'Taraxacum' possibly from Arabic 'tarakhshagog' (bitter herb) or Greek 'taraxos' (disorder) and 'akos' (remedy). 'Blowball' and 'puffball' describe seed heads. 'Piss-a-bed' refers to diuretic properties. Over 2,000 microspecies worldwide
  • Flowers 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) across, bright golden-yellow composite heads with 150-200 ray florets (no disc florets). After flowering, transforms into spherical seed head 1.5-2 inches across with 150-200 seeds, each with feathery pappus (parachute) for wind dispersal. Flowers close at night and in cloudy weather
  • Perennial with deep taproot (6-18 inches long). Blooms primarily spring through early summer (March-June), sporadically through fall. Individual flowers last 1-2 days. Reproduces by seed (up to 15,000 per plant annually) and regenerates from root fragments. Nearly impossible to eradicate once established
  • Grows 2-18 inches (5-45 cm) tall depending on growing conditions. Forms basal rosette of deeply toothed leaves 2-16 inches long. Taproot grows 6-18 inches deep. Lifespan of 5-10+ years. Propagated by seed (germinates readily) or root division
  • Native to Europe and Asia. Now cosmopolitan weed found on every continent except Antarctica. Thrives in temperate regions worldwide. Grows in lawns, gardens, roadsides, waste areas, meadows, and disturbed soils. One of world's most successful plants
  • Extremely adaptable, grows in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates poor, compacted soil and drought once established. Thrives in disturbed areas and lawns. Deep taproot makes difficult to remove. Spreads aggressively by wind-dispersed seeds. Very hardy, zones 3-10
  • Entirely edible and highly nutritious. Young leaves rich in vitamins A, C, K, calcium, iron (harvest before flowering for best flavor). Roots roasted for coffee substitute. Flowers make wine and jelly. Used medicinally for liver support, digestion, and as diuretic. Crucial early nectar source for bees. Considered invasive weed but increasingly valued for foraging and permaculture

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificTaraxacum officinale
English (Alternate)Wish puff, Fairy blowball, Cankerwort, Faceclock, Pee-a-bed, Wet-a-bed, Irish daisy
Hindiसिंहपर्णी (sinhparni), कुकरौंधा (kukaraudha).
Tamilசீமைக் காட்டுமுள்ளங்கி (Seemai kaattupullangi), சிம்லா காட்டுமுள்ளங்கி(Shimla kaattupullangi)
Teluguపత్రి(Patri), టాటా పిలక (Ṭāṭā pilaka)
Malayalamദുഗ്ധഫേനി (Dugddhapheni), ഡൈന്ഡലാഇഅന (Daindalayana)
Kannadaಕಾಡು ಶಾವಂತಿ (Kāḍu śāvanti), ಕಾಡು ಶೇವಂತಿಗೆ (Kāḍu śēvantige)
Sanskritदुग्धफेनि (dugdhapheni), लूतारी (lootaari), पायस्विनी (payasvini)
Bengaliড্যান্ডেলিয়ন (Dandelion), পিচুমকি (Pichumki), পুষ্পবৃক্ষ (pushpabrikkho)
Frenchpissenlit
Russianодуванчик (odoovanchik)
Spanishdiente de león
GermanLöwenzahn

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.