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dandelion
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dandelion
Are dandelions edible?
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dandelion
dandelion Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

dandelion

plant
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Also known as: Taraxacum officinale
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dandelion, weedy perennial herb of the genus Taraxacum of the family Asteraceae, native to Eurasia but widespread throughout much of temperate North America. The most familiar species is T. officinale.

Are dandelions edible?
Are dandelions edible?Overview of dandelions.
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It has a rosette of leaves at the base of the plant; a deep taproot; a smooth, hollow stem; leaves that may be nearly smooth-margined, toothed, or deeply cut; and a solitary yellow flower head composed only of ray flowers (no disk flowers). The fruit is a ball-shaped cluster of many small, tufted, one-seeded fruits. The bitter young leaves are used in salads, and the roots can be used to make a coffee-like beverage.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.