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Dandelion

Dandelion

Taraxacum

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How common: Very common

Dandelion is a very familiar plant with bright yellow heads that turn into white, fluffy seed balls. It thrives in towns and countryside alike. The leaves make a low circle at ground level and ooze white sap when broken. There are many very similar small forms that all look like dandelions.

Did you know?

  • The stems are hollow and each holds just one flower head.
  • The leaf circle can stay green under snow and reappear during mild winter spells.

About the species

Identification

Perennial 10–40 cm tall from a thick deep root. Leaves form a low circle at ground level; they are long and narrow with deep teeth or side lobes, sometimes nearly entire. Breaking any part gives white milky sap. Stems are leafless, hollow, and each carries a single yellow head 3–7 cm wide. The backs of the yellow strips may show grayish or reddish lines. After flowering the head becomes a round white ball of parachute seeds. Check for one head on a hollow, leafless stem and the ground leaf circle; many look‑alikes have branched stems or leaves on the stem, or flower before leaves (like coltsfoot). Flowers in Finland from May to September.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

meadow, yards and roadsides

Flowering

May–Sep

About the habitat

Grows almost anywhere with light: lawns, pathsides, meadows, fields, waste ground, and even open spots in rich woods. Occurs throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taraxacum spec RF.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki leviäimet, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Koululaisille: talvivihreät kasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Kulttuuriympäristöt: niityt, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Pinkka: Kasvitieteen retkeily Ahvenanmaalle - Nåtö ja Västerskog, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Kulttuuriympäristöt, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Talvivihreät luonnonkasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.42419

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voikukat

See also