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'''''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 weeds worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=132314  | title = Taraxacum | work = [[Flora of North America]] }}</ref> Both species are edible in their entirety.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gardenology.org/wiki/Dandelion  | title = Dandelion | work = Gardenology.org }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2008-04-01/Dandelion-Recipes.aspx?page=2  | title = Wild About Dandelions | work = Mother Earth News }}</ref>  They are named for their sharp, serrated leaves that resemble lion's teeth.<ref>[http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-weeds-pests/dandy-lion-taming-in-your-lawn.php Dandy lion-taming in your lawn]</ref> The common name '''dandelion''' ({{pron-en|ˈdændɨlaɪ.ən}}, {{Respell|DAN|dih-lye-ən}}) 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.<ref>[http://128.104.239.6/uw_weeds/extension/articles/dandelion.htm Dandelion - J. Doll and T. Trower<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

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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]].

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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 colored, and are open in the daytime but closed at night. The heads are borne singly on a hollow stem (scape) which rises 4–75&nbsp;cm<ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067706 Taraxacum latilobum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 consists entirely of ray [[floret]]s. The flower heads mature into a spherical "clocks"<ref>http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/dandelion-clock</ref> 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.

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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.

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{{Inc|

Taraxacum (name probably associated with supposed medicinal properties). Leontodon of some authors. Compositae. Dandelion. Low nearly or quite stemless herbs of cold and temperate regions, mostly of the northern hemisphere. Distinguished by having large many-fld. ligulate yellow heads solitary on naked and hollow scapes; involucre with one inner series of erect narrow bracts and outer calyx-like spreading sometimes reflexed bracts; pappus simple and capillary, borne on a slender beak terminating a fusiform elongated angled achene: fls. opening in sunshine. The plants are exceedingly variable and there are consequently great differences of opinion as to the number of species. Bentham & Hooker would reduce them to about 6, and others would retain 25 or more. The common dandelion is T. officinale, Weber, known also as T. Dens-leonis, Desf. It varies immensely in stature and form of lvs. From the common dandelion it differs in having smaller sulfur-yellow heads, smaller and very deeply cut lvs., outer involucral scales not reflexed and somewhat glaucous: achenes red or red-brown and shorter beaked: pappus dirty white. It is known to occur in New England, N. Y., Pa. and W.; probably naturalized from Eu.

Taraxacum (name probably associated with supposed medicinal properties). Leontodon of some authors. Compositae. Dandelion. Low nearly or quite stemless herbs of cold and temperate regions, mostly of the northern hemisphere. Distinguished by having large many-fld. ligulate yellow heads solitary on naked and hollow scapes; involucre with one inner series of erect narrow bracts and outer calyx-like spreading sometimes reflexed bracts; pappus simple and capillary, borne on a slender beak terminating a fusiform elongated angled achene: fls. opening in sunshine. The plants are exceedingly variable and there are consequently great differences of opinion as to the number of species. Bentham & Hooker would reduce them to about 6, and others would retain 25 or more. The common dandelion is T. officinale, Weber, known also as T. Dens-leonis, Desf. It varies immensely in stature and form of lvs., as shown in Figs. 3771-3774. For history, see Sturtevant, Proc. 6th Meeting Soc. Prom. Agr. Sci., and Amer. Nat., Jan., 1886. For an account of the red-seeded dandelion, T. erythrospermum, Andrz., see Fernald, Bot. Gaz., July, 1895:323. From the common dandelion it differs in having smaller sulfur-yellow heads, smaller and very deeply cut lvs., outer involucral scales not reflexed and somewhat glaucous: achenes red or red-brown and shorter beaked: pappus dirty white. It is known to occur in New England, N. Y., Pa. and W.; probably naturalized from Eu. For the cultural directions, see Dandelion, Vol. II.

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==Species==

==Species==

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* ''[[Taraxacum albidum]]'', a white-flowering [[Japan]]ese dandelion.

* ''[[Taraxacum officinale]]'' (syn. ''T. officinale subsp. vulgare''), Common Dandelion. Found in many forms.

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

* ''[[Taraxacum kok-saghyz]]'', Russian dandelion, which produces rubber<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Taraxacum+kok-saghyz | title = Plants for a future: Taraxacum kok-saghiz }}</ref>

==Gallery==

==Gallery==

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