Taraxacum

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Biography

Taraxacum () is a large genus of flowering plant s in the family Asteraceae . They are native to Eurasia and North America, and two species, Taraxacum officinale|T. officinale and Taraxacum erythrospermum|T. erythrospermum , are found as weed s worldwide. Both species are edible in their entirety. The common name dandelion ( , from French language|French dent-de-lion , meaning lion's tooth) is given to members of the genus , and like other members of the Asteraceae family, they have very small flowers collected together into a composite Head (botany)|flower head . Each single flower in a head is called a floret. Many Taraxacum species produce seeds asexual reproduction|asexually by apomixis , where the seeds are produced without pollination , resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

Description

The species of Taraxacum are taproot|tap-rooted Biennial plant|biennial or perennial plant|perennial herbaceous plants, native to temperate areas of the Old world|Old and New world s.
The leaves are 5–25& nbsp;cm long or longer, simple and basal, entire or lobed, forming a rosette above the central taproot. The inflorescence|flower heads are yellow to orange coloured, and are open in the daytime but closed at night. The heads are borne singly on a hollow stem (scape) that rises 1–10& nbsp;cm or more above the leaves and exudes a milky Sap (plant)|sap ( latex ) when broken. A rosette may produce several flowering stems at a time. The flower heads are 2–5& nbsp;cm in diameter and consist entirely of ray floret s. The flower heads mature into spherical "clocks" containing many single-seeded fruits called achene s. Each achene is attached to a pappus (flower structure)|pappus of fine hairs, which enable wind-aided dispersal over long distances.

The flower head is surrounded by bract s (sometimes mistakenly called sepal s) in two series. The inner bract s are erect until the seeds mature, then flex downward to allow the seeds to disperse; the outer bracts are always reflexed downward. Some species drop the "parachute" from the achenes; the hair-like parachutes are called pappus , and they are modified sepals. Between the pappus and the achene, there is a stalk called a beak, which elongates as the fruit matures. The beak breaks off from the achene quite easily, separating the seed from the parachute.

Seed dispersal

A number of species of Taraxacum are seed dispersed ruderal s that rapidly colonize disturbed soil, especially the Common dandelion ( T. officinale ), which has been introduced over much of the temperate world. After flowering is finished, the dandelion flower head dries out for a day or two. The dried petals and stamens drop off, the bracts reflex (curve backwards), and the parachute ball opens into a full sphere. Finally, the seed-bearing parachutes expand and lift out of it. The parachute drops off the achene when it strikes an obstacle. After the seed is released, the parachutes lose their feathered structure and take on a fuzzy, cotton-like appearance, often called "dandelion snow".

False dandelions

Dandelions are so similar to catsear s ( Hypochaeris ) that catsears are also known as "false dandelions". Both plants carry similar flowers, which form into windborne seeds. However, dandelion flowers are borne singly on unbranched, hairless and leafless, hollow stems, while catsear flowering stems are branched, solid and carry bracts. Both plants have a basal rosette of leaves and a central taproot. However, the leaves of dandelions are smooth or glabrous, whereas those of catsears are coarsely hairy.

Other plants with superficially similar flowers include hawkweed s ( Hieracium ) and crepis|hawksbeard s ( Crepis ). These are readily distinguished by branched flowering stems, which are usually hairy and bear leaves.

Classification

The genus is taxonomy|taxonomically complex, with some botanists dividing the group into about 34 macrospecies, and about 2000 microspecies ; approximately 235 apomixis|apomictic and polyploid microspecies have been recorded in Great Britain and Ireland. Some botanists take a much narrower view and only accept a total of about 60 species.

Selected species

Taraxacum albidum , a white-flowering Japan ese dandelion.

Taraxacum californicum , the endangered California dandelion

Taraxacum japonicum , Japanese dandelion. No ring of smallish, downward-turned leaves under the flowerhead.

Taraxacum kok-saghyz , Russian dandelion, which produces rubber

Taraxacum laevigatum , Red-seeded Dandelion; achenes reddish brown and leaves deeply cut throughout length. Inner bracts' tips are hooded.

* Taraxacum erythrospermum , often considered a variety of Taraxacum laevigatum .

Taraxacum officinale (syn. T. officinale subsp. vulgare ), Common Dandelion. Found in many forms.

Cultivars

' Amélioré à Coeur Plein ' - Yields an abundant crop without taking up much ground, and tends to Blanching (horticulture)|blanch itself naturally, due to its clumping growth habit.

' Broad Leaved ' - The leaves are thick and tender and easily blanched. In rich soils they can be up to 60& nbsp;cm wide. Plants do not go to seed as quickly as French types.

' Vert de Montmagny '- Long dark green leaves, some find them mild enough to be palatable without blanching. Vigorous and productive.

History

Dandelions are thought to have evolution|evolved about thirty million years ago in Eurasia. They have been used by humans for food and as a herb for much of recorded history. They were introduced to North America by early European immigrants.

Origin of the names

The Latin name taraxacum originates in Middle Ages|medieval Arabic writings on pharmacy. Al-Razi around 900 (A.D.) wrote "the tarashaquq is like chicory". Ibn Sina around 1000 (A.D.) wrote a book chapter on taraxacum. Gerard of Cremona , in translating Arabic to Latin around 1170, spelled it tarasacon .Reported in An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language , by Walter W. Skeat (1888) (). In An Etymology Dictionary of Modern English by Ernest Weekley (1921) it is reported that Arabic tarashaqun is derivable in turn from Persian talkh chakok , bitter herb ().

The English name dandelion is a corruption of the French dent de lion S. Potter & L. Sargent (1973) Pedigree: essays on the etymology of words from nature. Collins New Naturalist series Volume 56 meaning "lion's tooth", referring to the coarsely toothed leaves. The names of the plant have the same meaning in several other European languages, such as the Welsh dant y llew , Italian dente di leone , Catalan dent de lleó , Spanish diente de león , Portuguese dente-de-leão , Norwegian Løvetann , Danish Løvetand and German Löwenzahn .

In modern French, the plant is named pissenlit (or vernacular pisse au lit ). Likewise, "piss-a-bed" is an English folk-name for this plant, as are piscialletto in Italian, pixallits in Catalan and meacamas in Spanish. These names refer to the strong diuretic effect of the plant's roots, either roasted or raw. In various north-eastern Italian dialects, the plant is known as pisacan ("dog pisses"), because they are found at the side of pavements.

In France, it is also known as laitue de chien (dog's lettuce), salade de taupe (mole's salad), ''florin d'or (golden Florin (Italian coin)|florin ); cochet (cockerel); fausse chicorée (false chicory ); couronne de moine'' (monk's crown); baraban .
In several European languages the plant, or at least its parachute ball stage, is named after the popular children's pastime of blowing the parachutes off the stalk: Pusteblume German for "blowing flower"), soffione (Italian for "blowing", in some northern Italian dialects), dmuchawiec (Polish, derived from the verb "blow"), ????????? (Russian, derived from the verb "blow").
In other languages, the plant is named after the white sap found in its stem, e.g. mlecz (derived from the Polish word for "milk"), mælkebøtte (Danish for "milk pot"), kutyatej (Hungarian for "dog milk"), ???????? (Serbian, from ?????? meaning "butter"). The Lithuanian language|Lithuanian name kiaulpiene can be translated as "sow milk". Similarly, in Latvian language|Latvian it is called pienene , derived from piens ('milk'), as in Catalan language|Catalan is used lletsó (derived from the word llet that means "milk").
The alternative Hungarian language|Hungarian name gyermekláncfu ("child's chain grass") refers to the habit of children to pick dandelions, remove the flowers, and make links out of the stems by "plugging" the narrow top end of the stem into the wider bottom end.
In Bulgarian language|Bulgarian and Macedonian language|Macedonian its name (respectively ???????? and ???????? ) is derived from the word for 'deaf' ( ???? , ???? ), because of a traditional belief that dandelion parachutes can cause deafness.

In Turkish language|Turkish , the dandelion is called karahindiba meaning "black endive". While the root flesh is white, the outer skin of the root is dark brown or black.

In Swedish language|Swedish , it is called maskros ('worm rose') after the small insects ( thrips ) usually present in the flowers.

In Finnish language|Finnish and Estonian language|Estonian , it is called voikukka and võilill , respectively, meaning "butter flower", referring to its buttery colour. Similarly, in Croatian language|Croatian , the name of this plant ( maslacak ) is derived from the noun maslac , meaning butter . (Croatian Language Portal)

In Dutch language|Dutch it is called paardenbloem , meaning "horse-flower".

In Chinese language|Chinese it is called pú gong ying (???), meaning "flower that grows in public spaces by the riverside".
In Persian language|Persian it is called qasedak (?????), meaning the "small postman", because of a belief that it brings good news.

In Portuguese language|Portuguese it is called dente-de-leão , also meaning "lion's tooth". Portuguese children also call them "o teu pai é careca" (your dad is bald) due to a game which consisted on blowing on a dandelion. If it was left with no seeds, that would mean the other kid's dad was bald.

In Greek language|Greek its seed (and most often the plant itself) is called a kleftis (???ft??) meaning "thief" because it is very difficult to catch once airborne.

Properties

As a beneficial weed

The dandelion plant is a beneficial weed , with a wide range of uses, and is even a good companion plant for gardening. Its taproot will bring up nutrients for shallower-rooting plants, and add minerals and nitrogen fixing|nitrogen to soil. It is also known to attract pollination#Biotic| pollinating insects and release ethylene gas which helps fruit to ripen.

Culinary use

Dandelions are found on all continents and have been gathered since prehistory, but the varieties cultivated for consumption are mainly native to Eurasia . A perennial plant , its leaves will grow back if the taproot is left intact. To make leaves more palatable, they are often blanching (cooking)|blanched to remove bitterness. Dandelion leaves and buds have been a part of traditional Cuisine of the Sephardic Jews|Sephardic , Chinese cuisine|Chinese and Korean cuisine . In Crete , Greece , the leaves of a variety called Mari (?a??), Mariaki (?a?????) or Koproradiko (??p????d???) are eaten by locals, either raw or boiled, in salads. Another species endemic to Crete, is eaten in the same way; it is found only at high altitudes (1000 to 1600 m.) and in fallow sites, and is called pentaramia (pe?ta??µ?a) or agrioradiko (a??????d???) and which has been named Taraxacum megalorhizon by Prof. Michalis Damanakis of the Botanics Department of the University of Crete.

The flower petals, along with other ingredients, are used to make Fruit wine#Dandelion wine|dandelion wine . The ground, roasted roots can be used as a caffeine-free dandelion coffee . Dandelion was also traditionally used to make the traditional British soft drink dandelion and burdock , and is one of the ingredients of root beer#Ingredients|root beer .

Dandelion leaves contain abundant vitamin s and minerals, especially vitamins Vitamin A|A , Vitamin C|C and Vitamin K|K , and are good sources of calcium , potassium , iron and manganese .

Dangers

Dandelion pollen may cause allergy|allergic reactions when eaten, or adverse skin reactions in sensitive individuals. Due to its high potassium level, dandelion can also increase the risk of hyperkalemia when taken with potassium-sparing diuretics .

Herbalism

Historically, dandelion was prized for a variety of medicinal properties, and it contains a wide number of pharmacologically active compounds. Dandelion is used as a folk remedy in Europe, North America and China . It has been used to treat infections, bile and liver problems, and as a diuretic . Other people use it for its supposed inflammation|anti-inflammatory effects and urinary tract infection s in women.

Insects

Dandelions are important plants for northern hemisphere bees, providing an important source of nectar and pollen early in the season. Dandelions are used as food plants by the larva e of some species of Lepidoptera ( butterflies and moths ). See List of Lepidoptera that feed on dandelions . They are also used as a source of nectar by the pearl-bordered fritillary ( Boloria euphrosyne ), one of the earliest emerging butterfly|butterflies in the spring (season)|spring .

Culture

Four dandelion flowers are the emblem of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia|White Sulphur Springs , West Virginia . The citizens celebrate spring with an annual Dandelion Festival.

The dandelion is the official flower of the University of Rochester and "Dandelion Yellow" is one of the school's official colors. The Dandelion Yellow is an official University of Rochester song.

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