As dandelions spread across our continent, Native Americans were quick to realize their usefulness as food and medicine.In Europe, where dandelion has an even deeper past, the plants were historically used as a laxative, diuretic, “blood cleanser,” and tonic.The dandelion is the “poster child” of the many, many plants and animals that Europeans brought with them (for better or for worse, intentionally or by accident) in past centuries and introduced to nearly all parts of the world. Fortunately, and perhaps surprisingly, dandelions are not generally considered invasive, because they do not usually invade and overwhelm healthy natural communities such as well-established native prairies, marshes, and woodlands. Many oldtime Missourians made this wine in their basements and enjoyed it as a “tonic” or sipped it as a cordial. This is without a doubt the most commonly encountered and widely recognized plant species across all age groups and skill levels. Bare, dug-up soil would wash away without these early colonizers to help bind and protect the soil. Common Dandelion, Dandelion. In a very similar way, European thought and culture was also introduced to all corners of the globe.

When growing amid higher grasses, dandelion reaches its greatest height.Introduced from Europe long, long ago and now common nearly globally.


Henbit, dead nettle, shepherd’s purse, field cress, yellow rocket, black mustard, bird’s-foot trefoil, black medic, white and yellow sweet clovers, chicory, ox-eye daisy, English plantain, mullein and moth mullein, Queen Anne’s lace, and many, many other Missouri wildflowers are in this same category.Common in disturbed areas. Children are familiar with the fluffy, ball-shaped seedheads, with each seed having its own tiny “parachute” to fly away on the wind — or when we blow on them. A menace to gardeners and homeowners looking for a lush, green lawn, this plant can also be cultivated or foraged as food. Other pioneer plants include several types of annual grasses, several kinds of mustards (such as shepherd’s purse), plantains, lamb’s quarter, henbit, pigweed, purslane, and so on.On the bright side, pioneer species perform an important ecological role in succession. Originally from Europe, it occurs nearly worldwide.Children are familiar with the fluffy seedheads of common dandelion.To use dandelion flowers in pancakes, fritters, or winemaking, most people pick away the bitter green bits at the base, and use just the yellow florets.Common dandelion's deeply lobed leaves are familiar to just about anyone who goes outdoors. For example, you Plants that have been disseminated or escaped as a result of human activity, and become established somewhere within the United States, Canada or Greenland. After a winter of eating root vegetables and canned food, the fresh greens are especially delicious.If you are wanting to harvest dandelion greens, take care to pick them from areas free of pesticide residues. less than 0.1% of flowering plant diversity, divided among 9 families. Sometimes it was mixed with sassafras, chicory, and similar tonic roots.
The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering!

Considered a weed by many because it frequently grows where it's not wanted. The common dandelion scarcely needs description, since it is common statewide in all types of disturbed habitats and occurs nearly everywhere in the world. Younger plants are more tender and less bitter than older ones. Dandelions are slowly expanding into a minor organic crop in parts of the northern United States. Kingdom: Plantae: Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae: Subkingdom: Tracheobionta: Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients: Division : Magnoliophyta: Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms: Class: Magnoliopsida: Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves: Subclass: Asteridae: A …