Taraxacum officinale
Taraxacum officinale | |
---|---|
Common dandelion[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Taraxacum |
Species: | T. officinale
|
Binomial name | |
Taraxacum officinale (
F.H.Wigg. | |
Synonyms[4][5] | |
|
Taraxacum officinale, the dandelion or common dandelion,
The common dandelion grows in
It is most often considered a
Description
Taraxacum officinale grows from (generally unbranched)
The leaves are 5–45 cm (2–17+3⁄4 in) long and 1–10 cm (1⁄2–4 in) wide, and are oblanceolate, oblong, or obovate in shape, with the bases gradually narrowing to the petiole. The leaf margins are typically shallowly lobed to deeply lobed and often lacerate or toothed with sharp or dull teeth.[14]
The calyculi (the cuplike bracts that hold the florets) are composed of 12 to 18 segments: each segment is reflexed and sometimes glaucous. The lanceolate shaped bractlets are in two series, with the apices acuminate in shape. The 14–25 millimetres (1⁄2–1 in) wide involucres are green to dark green or brownish-green, with the tips dark gray or purplish. The florets number 40 to over 100 per head, having corollas that are yellow or orange-yellow in color.
The fruits, called cypselae,[16] range in color from olive-green or olive-brown to straw-colored to grayish, they are oblanceoloid in shape and 2–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long with slender beaks. The fruits have 4 to 12 ribs that have sharp edges. The silky pappi, which form the parachutes, are white to silver-white in color and around 6 mm wide. Plants typically have 24 or 40 pairs of chromosomes, while some have 16 or 32 pairs.[17]
Chemistry
Taraxalisin | |
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Identifiers | |
CAS no. | 217442-60-9 |
Taraxalisin is a serine
Taxonomy
Carl Linnaeus named the species Leontodon taraxacum in 1753. The current genus name Taraxacum derives possibly from the Arabic Tharakhchakon,[14] or from the Greek Tarraxos.[20] The specific name officinalis refers to its value as a medicinal herb, and is derived from the word opificina, later officina, meaning a workshop or pharmacy.[21]
The taxonomy of the genus
T. officinale has a fossil record that goes back to
North American dandelions
The plants introduced to North America, originally as a food crop, are triploids that mainly reproduce by obligate gametophytic apomixis[17][27] Though sexual dandelion plants are known in North America, almost all are clones that produce genetically identical seeds through apomixis.[28] Some authorities recognize three subspecies of Taraxacum officinale, including:[29][30]
- Taraxacum officinale subsp. ceratophorum (Ledeb.) Schinz ex Thellung which is commonly called common dandelion, fleshy dandelion, horned dandelion or rough dandelion. It is native to Canada and the western U.S.[31] Some sources list it as a species, Taraxacum ceratophorum.[32][33]
- Taraxacum officinale subsp. officinale, which is commonly called common dandelion or wandering dandelion.
- Taraxacum officinale subsp. vulgare (Lam.) Schinz & R. Keller, which is commonly called common dandelion.
Two of them have been introduced and established in Alaska and the third (subsp. ceratophorum) is native there.[34]
European dandelions
Taraxacum officinale L. (dandelion) is a vigorous weed in Europe with diploid sexual populations in the southern regions and partially overlapping populations of diploid sexuals and triploid or tetraploid apomicts in the central and northern regions.
These European dandelions can be divided into two groups. The first group reproduces sexually, as do most seed plants. This group consists of dandelions that have a diploid set of chromosomes, and are sexually self-incompatible. Sexual reproduction involves a reduction of the somatic chromosome number by meiosis followed by a restoration of the somatic chromosome number by fertilization. Diploid dandelions have eight pairs of chromosomes, and meiosis is regular with normal pairing of homologous chromosomes at the metaphase I stage of meiosis.[35]
The second group consists of polyploid (mostly triploid) apomicts, meaning that both a viable embryo as well as a functional endosperm is formed without prior fertilization. In contrast to the sexual diploids, the pairing of chromosomes at metaphase I in triploid apomicts is strongly reduced. However pairing is still sufficient to allow some recombination between homologous chromosomes.[35]
Etymology
Taraxacum is derived from the
The Latin specific epithet officinale refers to the Latin word for 'medicinal' or 'of the apothecaries'.[37]
T. officinale has many English common names (some of which are no longer in use), including blowball, lion's-tooth, cankerwort, milk-witch, yellow-gowan, Irish daisy, monks-head, priest's-crown and puff-ball;[38] other common names include, faceclock, pee-a-bed, wet-a-bed,[39] swine's snout,[40] white endive, and wild endive.[41]
The common name dandelion comes from the French dent de lion, or "lion's tooth", in reference to the plant's jagged-edged leaves.[20] "Pee-a-bed" and "wet-a-bed" reflect the modern French term for the plant, pissenlit. This name and all those that imply ramped-up urine production refer to T. officinale's well-known diuretic properties.[42]
Distribution and habitat
Taraxacum officinale is native to Europe and Asia,[43] and was originally imported to America as a food crop.[44] It is now naturalized throughout North America, southern Africa, South America, New Zealand, Australia, and India. It occurs in all 50 states of the US and most Canadian provinces.[34]
The plant grows in
The plant is coveted by collectors in regions where the plant is trickier to grow such as the tropics, where people would often resort to smuggling seeds from overseas.[45]
Conservation
Taraxacum officinale was evaluated in 2013 by the
Ecology
It is considered a noxious weed in some jurisdictions,[46] and is considered to be a nuisance in residential and recreational lawns in North America.[47] It is also an important weed in agriculture and causes significant economic damage because of its infestation in many crops worldwide.[46]
T. officinale can serve as an indicator plant for soil potassium and calcium, as the plant favours soils with relatively low concentrations of calcium, but favours soils with relatively high concentrations of potassium.[48]
The dandelion is a common colonizer of disturbed habitats, both from wind blown seeds and seed germination from the seed bank.[49] The seeds remain viable in the seed bank for many years, with one study showing germination after nine years. This species is a somewhat prolific seed producer, with 54 to 172 seeds produced per head, and a single plant can produce more than 5,000 seeds a year. It is estimated that more than 97,000,000 seeds/hectare could be produced yearly by a dense stand of dandelions.[50] When released, the seeds can be spread by the wind up to several hundred meters from their source. The seeds are also a common contaminant in crop and forage seeds. The plants are adaptable to most soils and the seeds are not dependent on cold temperatures before they will germinate but they need to be within the top 2.5 cm (1 in) of soil.[34] Dandelions can also regenerate themselves from fragments of taproot.[51]
T. officinale is food for the
Even though dandelion pollen is of poor nutritional quality for honey bees, they readily consume it, and it can be an important source of nutritional diversity in heavily managed monocultures such as that of blueberries.[52][53] Honey bees have not been shown to lower their pollination activity on nearby fruit crops when foraging on dandelions.[54]
While not in bloom, this species is sometimes confused with others, such as
Dandelion thrives in conditions of elevated carbon dioxide, growing to a higher biomass and producing a larger number of viable seeds. Therefore, it is anticipated that dandelion will become more competitive and widespread as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase.[28]
Uses
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
---|---|
Energy | 188 kJ (45 kcal) |
9.2 g | |
Sugars | 0.71 g |
Dietary fiber | 3.5 g |
0.7 g | |
2.7 g | |
Niacin (B3) | 5% 0.806 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) | 2% 0.084 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 15% 0.251 mg |
Folate (B9) | 7% 27 μg |
Choline | 6% 35.3 mg |
Vitamin C | 39% 35 mg |
Vitamin E | 23% 3.44 mg |
Vitamin K | 649% 778.4 μg |
Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
Calcium | 14% 187 mg |
Iron | 17% 3.1 mg |
Magnesium | 9% 36 mg |
Manganese | 15% 0.342 mg |
Phosphorus | 5% 66 mg |
Potassium | 13% 397 mg |
Sodium | 3% 76 mg |
Zinc | 4% 0.41 mg |
Other constituents | Quantity |
Water | 85.6 g |
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[57] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[58] |
The plant has several
Culinary
Dandelions are harvested from the wild or grown on a small scale as a
Dandelion flowers can be used to make dandelion
Another recipe using the plant is dandelion flower jam. In Silesia and other parts of Poland and the world, dandelion flowers are used to make a honey substitute syrup with added lemon (so-called May-honey). Ground roasted dandelion root can be used as a non-caffeinated coffee substitute.[64]
Diuretic
T. officinale's diuretic properties - believed to be a result of the plant’s high potassium content[65] - have been well described, with the leaves of this plant having been used for this purpose in traditional Chinese medicine for approximately 2,000 years, with other regions of the world using the plant in the same way; in French, a common name for T. officinale is pissenlit, 'a colorful description of its diuretic activity.' A study conducted in 2009 noted 'promising' results regarding these diuretic properties, but that further studies would need to be conducted into the plant's efficacy.[66]
Herbal medicine
Dandelion has been used in traditional medicine in Europe, North America, and China.[67]
Research
Since asexually-reproducing dandelions produce genetically identical offspring, they are often useful as subjects for scientific research. For example, dandelions are used in studies where genetic differences between subjects need to be minimized.[68]
Education
Because of its worldwide distribution, familiarity, and presence in a wide variety of folkloric traditions, the dandelion has been highlighted as a valuable tool for educators seeking to help children of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds connect to science through ethnobotany.[69]
Other
Yellow dye colors can be obtained from the flowers but little color can be obtained from the roots of the plant.[70] The latex can be used as a kind of glue.[71]
In culture
Cultures worldwide tell stories about the dandelion and have culinary and medicinal uses for it. A Native American folktale tells the story of a golden haired girl who attracted the fancy of the South Wind. The South Wind was too lazy to pursue her, until one day he realized she had grown old and her hair had turned white. Supposedly, when the South Wind sighs over the loss of his chance to pursue the golden-haired girl, his breath sends the white-haired dandelion seeds scattering to propagate more golden-haired daughters.[69]
See also
References
- ^ 1897 illustration from Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
- ^ a b "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Taraxacum officinale". 5 April 2013.
- ^ a b NatureServe (2023). "Taraxacum officinale". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Tropicos - Name - !Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg". tropicos.org.
- ^ "Taraxacum campylodes G.E.Haglund — The Plant List". theplantlist.org.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Taraxacum officinale". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Definition of "blowball" - Collins English Dictionary". collinsdictionary.com.
- ^ "blowball: meaning and definitions". infoplease.com.
- ^ "dandelion clock - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online". Ldoceonline.com. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
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- ^ "Cypsela". Steere Herbarium, New York Botanical Garden. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
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Swine's Snout.
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- ^ Wong, James (16 May 2021). "Why the dandelion blows away some plant collectors". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ doi:10.4141/P01-010.
- ^ Richardson, Jonathan (1985). "In praise of the archenemy". Audubon. 87: 37–39.
- ^ Almanac, Old Farmer's. "Weeds as Indicator Plants". Old Farmer's Almanac. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
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- ^ Dyer, A. (1976). Dyes from Natural Sources. G. Bell & Sons Ltd., London
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Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-665-98934-6.
- Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L.; Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-614-2
- Köhler, Franz Eugen (1887). Köhler's Medicinal Plants. Gustav Pabst.
- Vorobyev, G.; Alyabyev, A.; Ogorodnikova, T.; Khamidullin, A.; Vorobyev, V. (April 5, 2014). "Adaptive properties of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Wigg. s.l.) under conditions of air pollution by motor vehicle exhausts". Russian Journal of Ecology. 45 (2): 90–94. S2CID 9147896.
- Kenny, O.; Brunton, N. P.; Walsh, D. (April 2015). "Characterisation of Antimicrobial Extracts from Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)". Phytotherapy Research. 29 (4): 526–532. S2CID 5564213.
External links
- Northernbushcraft.com: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) — detailed information about edibility.