Dandelion leaf

Description

Taraxacum officinale

A highly recognisable yellow flower from the large genus in the family Asteraceae that include daisies and camomile. It is a welcome source of pollen to many insects but is often dug out or poisoned as it is regarded as a very stubborn weed.

It is not only the yellow blooms that are instantly recognisable – the name comes from the French meaning Lion’s teeth – the serrated leaves have the look of teeth. They are useful in salads when young (related to rocket salad). After flowering, the plant has the traditional fluffy ‘clock’ of the seed heads that children love to blow.

Dandelion has many myths, the most common suggests that if you pick it, or even just touch it, you will wet the bed – an idea that forms many of the local common names, including ‘Wet-the-bed’ and ‘Tiddle-beds’.

Dandelion tea is the perfect choice for those with the above problems or those who lead relatively sedentary lifestyles and who experience discomforts associated with this, such as constipation, digestive disorders, indigestion, and general sluggishness and fatigue. Just one cup per day will yield noticeable results within the first few months.