Dandelion is a common herbaceous plant

Alternative Names

Huahualang, Pugongcao, edible dandelion, bed-wetting grass, Western dandelion, popoding

Growth Habits

It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The root is slightly conical, curved, 4-10 cm long, brown on the surface, wrinkled, and the root crown has 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 obtuse or acute tips; the margins are sometimes wavy-toothed, sometimes runcinate-pinnatifid or lyrate-pinnatifid, with the terminal lobe larger, triangular or halberd-shaped, usually toothed, developing forward or backward, and small teeth often interspersed between the lobes; the base gradually narrows into a petiole-like form. The petiole and midvein are often reddish-purple, sparsely covered with arachnoid white soft hairs or nearly hairless.

There are 1 or more scapes, similar in length to the leaves, about 10-25 cm tall, purple-red in the upper part, with purple-red stripes on the back of the marginal ray florets, and dark green anthers and stigmas.

The achene is obovate-lanceolate, dark brown, about 4-5 mm long and about 1-1.5 mm wide, with spines in the upper part and small tubercles arranged in rows in the lower part, gradually narrowing at the apex into a 1 mm conical to cylindrical beak base. The flowering period is April-September, and the fruiting period is May-October.

Flower Language

Dandelion Flower Language

With yellow flowers full of vitality, its flower language is "love that cannot stay."

Purple Dandelion

A light purple dandelion, its flower language is 'legendary purple, attribute dark. Legend says whoever can find a purple dandelion can obtain perfect love.'

Please note: in fact, dandelions are not purple.

Autumn Dandelion

The flowers contain abundant nectar, so whenever the flowering season arrives, bees swarm to them. Therefore, its flower language is "temptation."

Flying Arrow Dandelion

A dandelion given the name Flying Arrow has the flower language "aiming at a marble," attribute wind.

Dandelion's Application Value

1. Edible value. Dandelion can be eaten raw, stir-fried, made into soup, or dressed cold, with a unique flavor. Eaten raw: wash the tender fresh stems and leaves of dandelion, drain them, and dip them in sauce; they are slightly bitter, deliciously fresh and fragrant, and refreshing. Cold dressed: blanch washed dandelion in boiling water for 1 minute, drain, and rinse with cold water. Season with chili oil, monosodium glutamate, salt, sesame oil, vinegar, mashed garlic, etc., or mix into small 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, add seasonings to make a filling (meat may also be added), and wrap dumplings or buns.

Dandelion has a very good dietary therapeutic effect. ① Dandelion porridge: 30 grams of dandelion, 100 grams of japonica rice, cooked into porridge, can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and dissipate nodules;

② Dandelion, Yin Chen, and red date soup: 50 grams of dandelion, 50 grams of Yin Chen, 10 red dates, 50 grams of white sugar, made into soup, is a top-grade auxiliary therapeutic medicine for treating acute icteric hepatitis;

③ Dandelion and Platycodon soup: 60 grams of dandelion, 10 grams of Platycodon grandiflorus, a little white sugar, decocted together into soup, has a certain therapeutic effect on carbuncles;

④ Dandelion and corn soup: 60 grams of dandelion, 60 grams of corn silk, add water and decoct to concentrate for oral use or drink as tea, used to treat heat strangury and short, red urine.

2. Medicinal value. Dandelion, also called bed-wetting grass, is used whole as medicine and has a very good effect on diuresis. It is rich in carotene, vitamin C, and minerals, and has an improving effect on 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, so it can be said to be a very useful aromatic herb. For fresh dandelion, choose those with clean leaves and a slight fragrance; for dried dandelion, 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 dandelion, put it in a pot, add water until the dandelion is covered, bring to a boil over high heat, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for one hour, filter 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 use can cause mild diarrhea.