Interesting facts about dandelions

dandelions

Dandelion is a common meadow herb of the Asteraceae or sunflower family.

There are about 100 species of dandelion, and all are beneficial.

The name “dandelion” comes from the French “dent de lion” – lion’s tooth, which refers to theserrated leaves.

The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.

Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar or seed of dandelion.

Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seed.

Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind and they travel like tiny parachutes.

dandelion

Seed can travel 8 kilometers (5 miles) before it finally reaches the ground.

Every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, flower. It can be used for food, medicine and dye for coloring.

Dandelion can be used in the production of wine and root beer. Root of dandelion can be used as a substitute for coffee.

Dandelions are high in calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.

Dandelions have sunk their roots deep into history. They were well known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years.

Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as diuretic.

The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.

If you mow dandelions, they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.

Dandelions are, quite possibly, the most successful plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide.