Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0331.JPG-05-11-2017
Flower name (scientific): Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wiggers PY: 1780. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ta-RAKS-uh-kum oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lee
Flower name (common): Dandelion
Family name (common): Aster
Family name (scientific): Asteraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From medieval Latin, in turn from Arabic, originally from Persian. The OED gives ƫarakhshaqōq (or ƫarkhshaqōq) as the word source; from talkh chakōk. This means bitter herb, referencing the taste of preparations obtained from the plant.
    Specific epithet: Sold based on its real or its conjectured medical qualities.
Common name origin: From the French dent de lion, meaning lion's tooth. Refers to the serrated leaf edges.
Flower description:
     Size: 1.0 to 2.0 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm)
     Petal count: 11
     Color: Yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Solitary
Plant description: Erect
     Size: 2 to 12 inches (5 to 30 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple and lobed
     Size: Leaves up to 45 cm long and up to 10 cm wide, more typically up to 15 to 20 cm long and 6 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, oblanceolate, oblong, or obovate (often runcinate) (FNA), oblanceolate (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, naturalized.
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): April to November
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Lawns, disturbed areas, roadsides, open woods and fields, sun or part shade.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Taraxacum erythrospermum (Red-seeded Dandelion) is fairly similar. It has a smaller flower size of 19 to 25 mm compared to Taraxacum officinale, which has a flower size of around 25 to 50 mm. When seeds are present, the most obvious way to differentiate between the two species: Taraxacum erythrospermum has reddish-brown seeds, while Taraxacum officinale has brown-colored seeds. Differences in leaf morphology can also help in separating these two species. Taraxacum erythrospermum has more deeply pinnatifid leaves compared with Taraxacum officinale. There are thirteen additional Taraxacum species in North America according to the FNA, most of which are native to Canada, Alaska, and the artic regions Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Taraxacum kok-saghyz, a native of Central Asia to Mongolia, has been introduced into the US. It is being studied for its suitability as a source of rubber.
Ethnobotany: The Menominee cooked the leaves as a vegetable (Smith, p. 65, 1923). The Meskwaki prepared a tea from the roots and used it as a remedy for chest pains. The Meskwaki also used the leaves as a green vegetable (Smith, pp. 218, 257, 1928). The Ojibwe used the roots to prepare a tea that was used as a remedy for heartburn. They also used the young leaves in spring as a food source (Smith, pp. 366, 399, 1932). The Potawatomi used the roots to prepare a bitter tonic and they also utilized the leaves as a green vegetable (Smith, pp. 50, 99, 1933).
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Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU