dandelion
Scientific name: Taraxacum officinale
Family: Asteraceae
Other common names; bitterwort, blow-ball, cankerwort, clockflower, Irish daisy
Flowering time: May to October
Height: to 35cm
Growing conditions: chalks and loamy soils
Nectar source for: bumblebees, solitary bees, honey bees, hoverflies, beetles, butterflies such as peacock and honey blue
Food source for: goldfinches, house sparrows.
Description
The common dandelion is actually a variety of forms or 'microspecies' and there are also a number of other dandelion species, so identification can be tricky.
How to identify: The familiar yellow flower heads display closely packed florets (tiny flowers). The leaves of the common dandelion are lobed and spoon-shaped, and the stem exudes a milky white sap if it is broken. When it fruits, the seeds appear with their downy, white parachutes, and form a globular, packed seed head.
How to propagate: Propagate by seed.
Family: Asteraceae
Other common names; bitterwort, blow-ball, cankerwort, clockflower, Irish daisy
Flowering time: May to October
Height: to 35cm
Growing conditions: chalks and loamy soils
Nectar source for: bumblebees, solitary bees, honey bees, hoverflies, beetles, butterflies such as peacock and honey blue
Food source for: goldfinches, house sparrows.
Description
The common dandelion is actually a variety of forms or 'microspecies' and there are also a number of other dandelion species, so identification can be tricky.
How to identify: The familiar yellow flower heads display closely packed florets (tiny flowers). The leaves of the common dandelion are lobed and spoon-shaped, and the stem exudes a milky white sap if it is broken. When it fruits, the seeds appear with their downy, white parachutes, and form a globular, packed seed head.
How to propagate: Propagate by seed.