What kind of growing environment suits dandelions?
Alternative names
Hua Hua Lang, Pu Gong Cao, edible dandelion, bed-wetting grass, Western dandelion, po po ding
Growth habits
It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The root is slightly conical and curved, 4-10 cm long, with a brown surface and wrinkled texture; the root crown bears brown or yellowish-white fine hairs.
The leaves are obovate-lanceolate, oblanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4-20 cm long and 1-5 cm wide, with a blunt or acute apex; the margins are sometimes undulate, sometimes deeply runcinate-pinnatifid or lyrate-pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe larger, triangular or halberd-shaped, usually toothed, spreading or recurved, and small teeth often interspersed between the lobes; the base gradually narrows into a petiole-like form. The petiole and midrib are often reddish-purple, sparsely covered with arachnoid white soft hairs or nearly hairless.
There are one or more scapes, similar in length to the leaves, about 10-25 cm tall, with the upper part purplish-red; the ligules of the marginal flowers have purplish-red stripes on the back, and the anthers and stigma are dark green.
The achene is obovate-lanceolate, dark brown, about 4-5 mm long and about 1-1.5 mm wide, with tiny spines on the upper part and rows of small tubercles on the lower part, gradually narrowing at the apex into a 1 mm conical to cylindrical beak base; the flowering period is April to September, and the fruiting period is May to October.
Flower language
Dandelion flower language
With its vibrant yellow flowers, its flower language is "love that cannot stay."
Purple dandelion
A light purple dandelion, whose flower language is "the legendary purple, attribute dark." Legend says that whoever finds the purple dandelion will obtain perfect love.
Please note: in fact, dandelions are not purple.
Autumn dandelion
Its flowers contain rich nectar, so whenever the flowering season arrives, bees swarm to it. Therefore its flower language is "temptation."
Flying Arrow dandelion
A dandelion named Flying Arrow, whose flower language is "aiming at the marble," attribute wind.
The practical value of dandelions
1. Culinary value. Dandelions can be eaten raw, stir-fried, made into soup, or dressed in a quick toss, with a unique flavor. Raw: wash the tender fresh stems and leaves of dandelion, drain them, and dip them in sauce; they are slightly bitter, yet fresh, fragrant and crisp. Cold-dressed: blanch the washed dandelions in boiling water for 1 minute, drain them, and rinse with cold water. Season with chili oil, monosodium glutamate, salt, sesame oil, vinegar, mashed garlic, etc., or mix into side dishes with different flavors according to your own taste. As filling: wash the tender stems and leaves of dandelion, blanch them in water, squeeze them slightly, chop them finely, add seasonings to make a filling (meat may also be added), and use it to make dumplings or baozi.
Dandelion has a very good therapeutic food effect. 1) Dandelion porridge: 30 grams of dandelion and 100 grams of japonica rice, cooked into porridge, can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and dissipate nodules;
2) Dandelion, yinchen and red date soup: 50 grams of dandelion, 50 grams of yinchen, 10 red dates and 50 grams of white sugar, made into soup; it is a top-grade auxiliary therapeutic medicine for acute icteric hepatitis;
3) Dandelion and platycodon soup: 60 grams of dandelion, 10 grams of platycodon and a little white sugar, decocted together into soup; it has a certain effect on carbuncles;
4) Dandelion and corn soup: 60 grams of dandelion and 60 grams of corn silk, decocted with water and concentrated for oral use or drunk as tea, used to treat heat strangury and scanty dark urine.
2. Medicinal value. Dandelion is also called bed-wetting grass; the whole plant is used as medicine, and it has a very good effect on diuresis. It is rich in carotene and vitamin C as well as minerals, and helps improve indigestion and constipation. In addition, the leaves also have a blood-purifying effect that improves eczema and soothes dermatitis and joint discomfort, while the root has an anti-inflammatory effect and can treat gallstones and rheumatism; however, it is still best not to use it without the guidance of a professional physician. The flowers can be decocted into medicinal juice to remove freckles, making it a very useful aromatic herb. For fresh dandelions, choose those with clean leaves and a slight fragrance; for dried dandelions, choose those that are grayish-green, free of impurities and dry.
3. Dandelion tea. 75 grams of dried dandelion and 1000 milliliters of water can be made into tea for drinking. Wash the dandelions, put them in a pot, add water to cover them, bring to a boil over high heat, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for one hour; strain out the tea residue and drink after it cools. Dandelion tea is not suitable for people with yang deficiency and external cold or weak spleen and stomach; excessive consumption may cause mild diarrhea.