Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale group
A low-growing perennial with a leaf rosette, yellow flower heads and familiar round seed heads. Identified young leaves and flowers have culinary uses. Plants in sprayed lawns or contaminated verges are unsuitable gathering sites.
Native range
Eurasian origins; widespread and naturalized in North America. The common dandelion group contains many closely related forms.
Typical season
Leaves and flowers are seasonal, with spring and later flushes. No reviewed pin-specific picking calendar is assigned.
Identification
Look for a single flower head on each hollow, unbranched, leafless stalk and a toothed basal rosette. Other yellow-flowered plants are different species. Photograph the whole plant rather than relying on the flower alone.