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.



Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Proper use & maintenance of a light sensor
Published on November 17, 2025
-
Managing light during cutting propagation
Published on September 12, 2025
-
Extended photosynthetically active radiation can increase plant growth
Published on August 12, 2024
-
Supplemental greenhouse lighting: LED or HPS?
Published on September 20, 2017
-
White LEDs for plant applications
Published on November 12, 2018
-
Plant lighting efficiency and efficacy
Published on July 10, 2017
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.