Taraxacum officinale

(Dandelion)

_DSC1056%20copy

Taraxacum officinale, FR568, Hinsdale Co. 3320

_DSC1056%20copy

Taraxacum officinale, Breckenridge, Summit Co. 1932

_DSC1056%20copy

Taraxacum officinale, FR568, Hinsdale Co. 3324

_DSC1056%20copy

Taraxacum officinale, FR568, Hinsdale Co. 3328

Scientific Name Taraxacum officinale USDA PLANTS Symbol TAOF
Common Name Dandelion ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 36213
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference		 Click Here
Description Life zones and habitat: Plains to montane (3500 to 10500 ft.); lawns, disturbed areas. roadsides, meadows.
Plant: Erect perennial 2 to 20 inches tall; stem is hollow, naked and sometimes purplish; it is smooth or upper portion somewhat hairy; milky sap.
Leaves: Basal leaves are oblanceolate to obovate in outline, usually lobed more than halfway to the midrib; 1-1/2 to 18 inches long.
Inflorescence: Solitary composite flower heads about 1-1/2 inches across, 40 to 100+ bright yellow ray flowers; phyllaries glaborous (hairless) in two rows, outer row reflexed (bent backward).
Bloom Period: March to October.
Fruit: Seed heads in large, white fuzzy ball.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Burke Museum of Natural History and SEINet. 		BONAP Distribution Map


Map Color Key		 Colorado Status:
Introduced
Back to Yellow/Orange Flowers

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains