Dancing in Dandelions

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Dancing in Dandelions

The dandelion is a plant many of us have become familiar with over the years. The golden flower clutches our lawns, highways and byways. Successful strategies for survival have given the dandelion a foothold in our lawns, if not in our hearts. Several individuals have fond remembrances of gathering the flower as a child, and it became the all-American symbol of a "mother's first bouquet." Yet as an adult, the plant is likely to become a distinct target when bending down to weed the front lawn or a pest nestled within one's personal garden.

History of the common Dandelion

A plethora of names have been handed down to the common dandelion. The leaves of the dandelion appear shiny and are without hairs. The margin of each leaf is cut into great jagged teeth, either upright or pointing somewhat backwards. The attachments are somewhat fanciful to the resemblance of the canine teeth of a lion, giving the plant its most familiar name of "Dandelion," (AAE, 1995)

Dandelions, known to the botanist as Taraxacum officinale, are classified in the Composite (Compositae) family of flowering plants. The genus name, Taraxacum is derived from the Persian word for "bitter herb," (Myer, 1994). Accompanying the golden ruse of the dandelion are the daisies, aster, sunflowers, goldenrod, Joe Pye weed and many other wildflowers.

Several common names, used for descriptive natures have also been given to the dandelion including, pissabed, priest's-crown, telltime, and wet-a-bed (Anonymous. 1999. Taraxacum officinale). The most common name is taken from the French term dent de lion (the dandelion), which means the "tooth of the lion," in reference to the deeply toothed leaves. "Others insist the golden petals resemble t...

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...t, 1/2 oz. Polypody root, 1 OZ. Shepherds Purse. Add 3 pints of water, boil down to half the quantity, strain, and add 1 OZ, of tincture of Rhubarb. Dose, a wine glassful three times a day, Celandine ointment to be applied at same time.

In Derbyshire, the juice of the, stalk is applied to remove warts, (Anonymous, 1999, Taraxacum officinale).

WORKS CITED

Anonymous. 1999. Taraxacum officinale, (http://www,natmedosol,com/Botan/Taraxacu.htm.).

Anonymous. 1999. Herb Craft. (http://www,herbact,com/taraxacum.html).

Academic American Encyclopedia 1995. Dandelions. Grolier Incorporated, Danbury, Conn. VI: 132-133.

Encyclopedia Americana. 1996. Dandelion. Grolier Incorporated, Danbury Conn, VII: 150-153.

Myer, Allen. 1994, Dandelion dilemma: a decision case in turfgrass management. IPC Publishing Services, St. Joseph, MI. HortTechnology 4: 190-193.

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