What other names does the dandelion have? You have probably heard all of these

Other names

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

Growth habits

It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The root is somewhat conical, curved, 4-10 cm long, with a brown surface, shrunken, and the root crown has brown or yellowish-white fine hairs.

The leaves are obovate-lanceolate, oblanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 4-20 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, with a blunt or acute apex, the margins sometimes undulate, sometimes runcinate-pinnatifid or lyrate-pinnatifid, the terminal lobe larger, triangular or halberd-shaped, usually toothed, spreading or recurved, with small teeth often interspersed between the lobes, and the base gradually narrowing into a petiole-like form. The petiole and main vein are often reddish-purple, sparsely covered with arachnoid white soft hairs or nearly hairless.

There are 1 or several scapes, similar in length to the leaves, about 10-25 cm tall, reddish-purple in the upper part, the back of the ray florets at the margin has purplish-red stripes, 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 the upper part bearing small spines and the lower part bearing small tubercles arranged in rows, and the apex gradually contracting 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, its flower language is 'the 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 comes, bees swarm in. Therefore its flower language is "temptation."

Flying Arrow dandelion

The dandelion given the name Flying Arrow has the flower language "aiming at the 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. Raw: wash the tender fresh stems and leaves of dandelion, drain, and dip in sauce; it is slightly bitter, delicious, fragrant and refreshing. Cold dressed: blanch the 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 side dishes with different flavors according to your own taste. As filling: wash the tender stems and leaves of dandelion, blanch in water, squeeze slightly, chop, 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 disperse 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 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 scanty dark urine.

2. Medicinal value. Dandelion is also called bed-wetting grass, and the whole plant is used as medicine; it 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, but it is still best not to use it without the guidance of a professional physician. The flowers decocted into medicinal juice can 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 aroma; 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 to cover the dandelion, after boiling over high heat cover the pot 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 with weak spleen and stomach; excessive dosage can cause mild diarrhea.