Asteraceae

Taraxacum officinale

Common Dandelion

Leaf rosette with erect stem. Stem leafless, hollow, with milky sap. Leaves bright green, pinnately divided into large lobes with lobe tips reflexed back toward stem, toothed. Flower head single, 1 in. Ray flowers 70 or more, cup formed of many bracts with outer bracts reflexed. Seeds olive-tan. Many plants have a flower structure resembling dandelion. Very similar to T. laevigatum, which has reddish brown seeds.

• Rarity: Common
• Flowering Time: All Year Long
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 2--8 inches
• Habitat: All Moist Soils, Meadow, Disturbed
• Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np
• Native: No