Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.

Perennial rosette herb. Lvs all basal, linear-oblanceolate to obovate, runcinate-pinnatifid to not lobed, toothed, glabrous or with sparse short multicellular hairs especially on midrib above, 5-30-(60) × 1-10-(12) cm; terminal lobe triangular to deltoid, acute or obtuse, truncate or hastate at base; lateral lobes narrowly to broadly triangular, usually recurved, often toothed, especially on distal margin; petiole and proximal part of midrib hollow. Scape stout, hollow, glabrous or cobwebby, 3-35-(60) cm tall. Capitula 3-5 cm diam. Involucral bracts glabrous; outer bracts narrowly obovate, attenuate, dull green or reddish, strongly reflexed to recurved at flowering and fruiting, with margins not scarious; inner bracts narrowly triangular to linear, acute, green, erect, with scarious margins at least at base. Florets golden yellow. Achene body cream to greenish brown, ribbed, clavate, 2.5-3.5 mm long; ribs each with 3-(5) teeth on distal ⅓, the distal teeth longest; cone tapering, 0.5-1 mm long, concolorous with body; beak usually white to cream, rarely dark, slender, 7-10 mm long. Pappus white, 5-7 mm long.

It grows in temperate places. It grows in lawns and on roadsides. It grows in damp cool sites. In Java it grows between 1,200-1,500 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. In the Himalayas it grows between 3,200-4,600 m above sea level. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan.

The tender leaves and enjoyed as a potherb. They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. They are fried in oil. The leaves are used in a fermented Korean dish called Kimchi. The roots can be baked in a slow oven until brown, and brittle. They are then ground up and then perked like coffee. They can also be boiled and eaten. They are used in soups. The flowers can be dipped in batter and fried. They have also be used for wine. They are also used to flavour drinks. CAUTION: The drug taraxacum is a mild laxative. Sprouted seeds can be eaten. The pollen is used as a food colouring.

Plants are grown from seed. When leaves are bitter the plants can be covered to protect from sunlight for a week. The leaf colour lightens. Plants can be grown by root division.