The photo is of a dandelion plant with yellow flowers and green leaves with margins that are deeply lobed.

Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale

Taraxacum officinale Weber in Wiggers

Asteraceae (Aster family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Rosette-forming simple perennial.

Leaves

All leaves originate from a basal rosette. Leaves are oblong to spatula-shaped, ranging from 2 to 10 inches long with deep, backward-pointing lobes. Leaves remain green year-round and exude a milky sap when damaged.

Stems

Vegetative stems are not visible aboveground. Forms a deep, thick taproot.

Flowers and fruit

Bright yellow, solitary flower heads consisting of only ray flowers are 1 to 2 inches wide and found at the ends of unbranched, hollow, leafless flowering stalks. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, wind-disseminated fruit that forms in a globe-shaped collection.

Reproduction

Seeds and new shoots from a taproot.

he photo is of a dandelion plant with yellow flowers and green leaves with margins that are deeply lobed.
Dandelion plant
The photo is of a dandelion mature flower. The fruits form a conspicuous, globe-like grayish-white seedhead.
Dandelion mature flower
The photo is of a dandelion seedling. Cotelydons are smooth and oval. The young leaves are oval with a long petiole.
Dandelion new seedling

Other Documents in this Series

You Might Also Be Interested In

Accessibility Questions:

For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.

Tag List
  • msu plant & pest diagnostics,
  • perennials

About