A well known plant whose yellow flower is usually seen as a weed.

It has a very long tap root, that will regenerate a new plant from a broken off portion left in the ground, which makes it difficult to eradicate from lawns In fact it will grow just about anywhere. .

Dandelions have a clever way of reproducing, as the flower can produce seeds without being fertilised by pollen. The seeds are dispersed by being blown about by the wind, or by children picking the seed head and blowing the seeds to 'tell the time'.

The flowers close up in bad weather and in the evening. It is a very old medicinal plant. All parts of the plant contain a milky sap which has the raw material for rubber.

The flowers can be made into wine and a substitute for coffee made from the roots, whilst in parts of Europe the young leaves are eaten. .