Ella Wheeler Wilcox said it best when she said, “A weed
is but an unloved flower.” Without a doubt the most recognized of these unloved
flowers is the dandelion. Love them or hate them no one can deny their bright
yellow flowers brighten up the spring landscape after a long, dreary winter.
Approximately thirty million years ago dandelions first appeared on the
Eurasian landscape and have spread their population throughout most of the
world. Dandelions share the family Asteraceae, with the daisy’s and sunflowers.
Just like the yellow sunflower, dandelions also orient themselves with the sun,
opening their flower head each morning and closing up each evening. Throughout
North American the common dandelion or wandering dandelion (
Taraxacum
officinale) is the most prevalent and widespread of all the known species.
The name
Taxaxacum may be derived from the Greek word tarasso which
translates to the word disturb which probably hints at its ability to adapt to
most any environment. The species name of
officinale is derived from the
Greek word opificina meaning apothecary or pharmacy. This is in reference to
the medicinal qualities the plant possess. The common name dandelion comes from
the French term dent-de-lion or lionstooth in reference to the jagged toothy
leaves. Over the past several hundred years these common plants have been
called many names, many of which are no longer in use today, including
lions-tooth, cankerwort, milkwitch, Irish daisy, puffball, priests crown and
perhaps the most unusual name of all is wet-a-bed. This colorful name is
derived from the French word pissenlit and refers to the plants diuretic
qualities. It was said that a child who sniffed a dandelion on May Day would
not wet the bed for a year. Those suffering from ailments of the kidneys or
liver often drank tonics or teas made from the leaves of the dandelion to aid
in cleansing the afflicted organs.
As early as March in Missouri the dormant dandelion will
awaken and begin blooming in earnest. These early bloomers provide much needed
nectar for hungry pollinators. Although the nectar quality is not as good, or
beneficial as other blooming flowers, honeybees will be found partaking of the
sweet juices, nonetheless. This has to be a welcome treat after months of
existing on stored honey. Dandelions do not require insects to pollinate them,
instead they spread their range through wind distribution when the seed heads
appear. They can also spread via seed banks, meaning because their seeds are
viable in the soil for up to ten years, under the right conditions they will
germinate and grow new plants. They may also regenerate through portions of
their taproot. This taproot may extend several feet into the soil making them
difficult to pull and eradicate. Each dandelion plant can produce more than
5,000 seeds a year or more than 15,000 seeds in its lifetime. It is estimated
that a dense stand of dandelions on two and half acres (or one hectare) of land
may produce 97,000,000 seeds! Knowing this it is easy to understand how and why
the dandelion has been so successful in spreading its range.
Dandelions have long been an important food source and
medicinal plant for humans and was brought from Europe to North American more
than a hundred years ago as a food source. Because of the high levels of vitamins,
A, C, and E, plus calcium and potassium this plant was considered a healthy
spring green for individuals deprived of fresh vegetables after a long winter. During
Victorian times the wealthy often added blooms and leaves to sandwiches and
salads, not only for the taste but also valuable nutrition. The USDA ranks
dandelions above spinach and broccoli for nutritional value. Dandelions grow
best in temperate climates and moist soils and may be found in a wide variety
of habitats that range from our backyards to riverbanks. Because they are
difficult to grow in tropical areas these regions of the World often smuggled
the seeds from overseas to try and establish populations for their coveted
medicinal uses. In the days of orderly lawns dandelions are often considered
public enemy #1.
Therefore with the overbearing amount of dandelions that
sprout up nearly everywhere in Missouri, it is hard to imagine regions of the
world purposefully planting their seeds. Individuals who study soil content and
quality know that dandelions are in indicator species for potassium and
calcium. Because these plants prefer soils low in calcium, yet high in
potassium, where large stands of these plants thrive, it can indicate the contents
of the soil. The long taproots help loosen compacted soil thus creating a
microclimate that draws earthworms whose job is to rejuvenate and aerate the
soil. This allows water to reach the root systems of turf and plants. If the
stand of dandelions is too large they can choke out your turf grass effectively
taking over your yard in a few years. I for one don’t mind the dandelions. I am
fond of the bright yellow flowers and appreciate the availability of precious nectar
for our early spring pollinators. Running a tortoise rescue I can also
appreciate the free food for my resident chelonians.
The commonality of dandelions makes them readily
available to anyone who is interested in pursuing the culinary benefits as well
as medicinal benefits of this versatile plant. All parts of the plant are
edible, and one can make wine, jam, jelly and even a coffee substitute from the
roots. I for one love the leaves as an interesting taste and texture to my
salads. Salve for blisters, bee stings and warts can be made from the juice of
the leaves. Even a honey substitute can be made called May honey.
Love them or hate them, these unloved flowers are not
going anywhere soon. Maybe this is a case of making lemonade out of lemons, or
wine out of dandelions as the case may be.
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