Taraxacum officinale Dandelion (Compositae)

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Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion
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The Taraxacum officinale plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Compositae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Dandelion.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Taraxacum officinale
Common Name:  Dandelion
Family:  Compositae
Author:  Weber.

Known Hazards:  This plant has been mentioned in various books on poisonous plants but any possible toxins will be of very low concentration and toxicity[10]. There are reports that some people have suffered dermatitis as a result of touching the plant, this is probably caused by the latex in the leaves and stems[222].

Mature Height:  0.45   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  A very common weed of grassland and cultivated ground[17].

General Uses: The flowers are an ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator[32]. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost[K]. A liquid plant feed can be made from the root and leaves[54]. A low quality latex, which can be used for making rubber, can be obtained from the roots of this plant. A magenta-brown dye is obtained from the root[141]. The plant releases ethylene gas, this stunts the growth of nearby plants and causes premature ripening of fruits[14, 18]. A distillled water made from the ligules (thin appendages at the base of the leaf blades) is used cosmetically to clear the skin and is particularly effective in fading freckles[7].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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