Taraxacum officinale
Family: Asteraceae
Herbaceous perennial. Native to and distributed throughout all
temperate zones. Richo recently observed a large, smiling Dandelion
growing out from an almost invisable crack from between a brick foundation
and a tarmac alleyway in Grant’s Pass, in November. It is funny
how the hardest plants to obtain for making medicine are often also the
common weeds: Plantain, Chickweed, Shepherd’s Purse and Dandelion.
Sometimes in an organic field the weeds are literally worth as much as
the intentional crop. Dandelion is a gentle liver tonic and diuretic.
Cultivation:
Easy. Sow seed in flats in the spring. Transplant to rows in the
garden. Space plants 1 foot apart, and keep well watered. The
flowering plants will be ready for harvest the following spring.
Cultivated Dandelion weighs about a pound per fresh plant, including root,
leaves and flowers. It grows best in the spring and in the fall.
You know how big it gets.
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to Herb Seed Index