# Dandelion (*Taraxacum*) Dandelions are bright yellow flowers that turn into fluffy white balls of seeds. They grow in fields, lawns, and gardens, adding a splash of color to the green grass. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Lion's Tooth, Taraxacum officinale, Wetland Dandelion ![Dandelion](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dandelion_%28Taraxacum%29_Clock_-_Tennessee%252C_USA_-_May_31%252C_2014.jpg&width=800) Photo: David Ratledge, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dandelion_%28Taraxacum%29_Clock_-_Tennessee%252C_USA_-_May_31%252C_2014.jpg) ## Appearance The Dandelion has a bright yellow, round flower head atop a hollow stem. Its leaves are long, deeply toothed, and grow in a basal rosette close to the ground. After flowering, it transforms into a puffy white seed head, distinct from its initial vibrant bloom. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae ## Interesting facts - Before clocks, people used dandelion flowers to tell time, as they close their petals in the evening! - Dandelions are actually made of many tiny flowers grouped together, called florets, creating one big 'flower'! - Its milky white sap contains a type of natural rubber, which scientists are researching for new uses! - The name 'Dandelion' comes from French, meaning 'lion's tooth', describing its jagged leaves! ## Special abilities - **Seed Parachutes:** Dandelion can launch its seeds with tiny parachutes, letting them float far away on the wind to find new places to grow. - **Deep Drinker:** Dandelion has a super long taproot that helps it reach deep water sources, allowing it to survive dry weather. - **Regrowth Power:** Dandelion can grow back quickly even if cut or trampled, making it very persistent in lawns and fields. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring to late fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Bumblebee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee) (*Bombus terrestris*) — Important early season food source - **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Grazes on leaves and flowers - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on plant foliage ## Traits - [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy dandelions in nature but avoid picking them from places where chemicals are used. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dandelion? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Dandelion? 5-30 cm ### How wide does Dandelion spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on Dandelion? 2-5 cm ### When does Dandelion bloom? Early spring to late fall ### Is Dandelion edible? Yes ### Is Dandelion toxic? None ### What is Dandelion's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District - [Green Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Sheridan County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sheridan-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Yantacaw Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/yantacaw-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Lucy Larcom Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lucy-larcom-park) — Massachusetts, US · Park [View all places to see Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/dandelion) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Dandelion: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion)