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Yellow and Orange Wildflower Gallery

Daisy-like Flowers - Narrow Petals - Dandelion

     

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family
Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Flower about 3/4" wide, base is "V" shaped. Grows 2-3 feet tall from taproot, one to many stems. Stems are upright or lax. All leaves are in a base rosette. Most have sharp lobes pointing toward base like arrows, end lobe large than others. Leaves narrow at the petiole, which can be winged. Seed puff ball, brown seed. Edible leaves; wine can be made from the flowers; coffee-like drink from the roots.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004
(Introduced, native of Eurasia, intrusive - Taylor, Coleman, Coke)

Similar Species

Rock Dandelion Taraxacum laevigatum
Flower about 1" wide. Grows 12" tall from taproot, one to many stems. Stems are upright or lax. All leaves are in a base rosette. Leaves are pinnate with gaps between lobes. Lobes are sharp but not pointing in any dirrection, end lobe not much larger than others. Leaves narrow at the petiole, which can be winged. Seed puff ball, red seed. Edible leaves; wine can be made from the flowers; coffee-like drink from the roots.
(Introduced, native of Europe, intrusive - Taylor, Brown)

              

Asteraceae (Compositae) - Sunflower family
Spiny Sow Thistle Sonchus asper
Tall dandelion-like plant, can branch from the big taproot. Yellow flowers in cluster at top, 5/8"-1" wide. Bracts in several whirls, outer ones have bristle tips. Rosette leaves are cut to the spine in round leaflets, edges spined and crinkled, red/green, clasp stem. Upper leaves entire or cut, edges spined, round flared base to clasp stem. Stem is red/green, has latex sap. Plant grows to about 6 feet tall. Edible leaves, pigs and rabbits especially.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March 2005
(Introduced, native of Europe, invasive - Taylor, Callahan, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

Common Sow Thistle Sonchus oleraceus
Tall dandelion-like plant, no branches. Yellow flower. Rosette leaves are cut to the spine in round leaflets, edges bristled and crinkled, red/green, clasp stem. Upper leaves entire or cut, edges bristled, clasp stem. Stem has latex sap. Plant grows to about 6 feet tall. Edible leaves, pigs and rabbits especially.
(Introduced, native of Eurasia, invasive - Taylor, Callahan, Brown)