Dandelion, ordinary

The common dandelion, also Taraxacum officinale, is a group of plants from the composite family (Asteraceae). Most often, these plants are simply called dandelion, which creates a risk of confusion with the genus dandelion (Leontodon).

Phtotherapeutically used is the whole plant, herb and roots (Taraxaci radix cum herba) but also individually root (dandelion root - Taraxaci radix), herb(Taraxaci herba) and leaves(Taraxaci folium).

The dandelion is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches a growth height between 10 cm to 30 cm and has taproots up to 1 m long. It merges into a short shoot axis, on which the leaves are densely arranged in a basal rosette. The leaves, 10 to 30 cm long, are ovate.
Several inflorescence stems with yellow flowers, up to 60 cm long, arise from the leaf axils. The plant contains a white milky sap in all parts. In folk medicine this milky sap is used against warts - to date scientific studies are lacking.
The fruits are slender 0,-0,3 cm in size, equipped with hairy flying umbrellas (pappus). They are spread by the wind (umbrella flyers). In Central Europe the main flowering period is in April and May. In significantly smaller numbers, flowers appear even into the fall.

Taraxacum officinale is the parent plant of Taraxaci radix cum herba

1. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp.149-150
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/loewenzahn.php