Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex F.H. Wiggers
(Dandelion, Common Dandelion)
Family: Asteraceae
Status: Exotic
Synonyms:
Taraxacum mexicanum A.P. de Candolle
Taraxacum taraxacum (Linnaeus) Karsten
Taraxacum officale is the common Dandelion, the same as is known from lawns all over the west.
It has only ray flowers, which are bright yellow. The leaves are lobed or pinnatifid. The achenes
and pappus form a sphere before the wind disperses them.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Taraxacum officinale, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, May 19, 2007
Taraxacum officinale, inflorescence showing phyllaries, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Meadow Creek, Sept. 5, 2008
Taraxacum officinale, with achenes, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Meadow Creek, Sept. 5, 2008
Taraxacum officinale, with achenes, photo Russ Kleinman, Tyrone, Nov. 8, 2007
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