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Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes

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Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale Weber in Wiggers
Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes > Dandelion
Dandelion flower Mature dandelion dlower
Yellow flower head of dandelion. Mature dandelion seed head.
Dandelion plant
Dandelion plant.
Life cycle: Rosette-forming simple perennial.

Leaves: All leaves originate from a basal rosette. Leaves are oblong to spatula-shaped, ranging from 2 to 10 inches long with deep, backward-pointing lobes. Leaves remain green year round and exude a milky sap when damaged.

Stems: Vegetative stems are not visible aboveground. Forms a deep, thick taproot.

Flowers and fruit: Bright yellow, solitary flower heads consisting of only ray flowers are 1 to 2 inches wide and found at the ends of unbranched, hollow, leafless flowering stalks. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, wind-disseminated fruit that forms in a globe-shaped collection.

Reproduction: Seeds and new shoots from a taproot.
Dandelion seedling
Dandelion seedling.
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated: 10/17/07