Dandelion.Taraxacum officinale.
Found, during April and May, in every sunny meadow, lawn, and grassy road.
The leaves, and the flowers on stems which vary from 3 or 4 to 12 inches in height, rise from the root.
The long and narrow leaf is often and irregularly cut, the notches generally pointing backwards, and the margin is also sharply toothed; the texture is close, the surface is smooth, and the midrib is wide; the edge is wavy. In color, grass green, the midrib pale. Many leaves grow in a rosette-like cluster from the root,—the flower buds held in the center.
The small “strap-shaped” flowers, with their notched ends, are gathered in overlapping rows, to form a large circular head; in color they are a brilliant orange-yellow, the central flowers deeper in tint. The head is confined in a cup of many narrow, dark green, leafy bracts, and set on long, smooth, elastic stems, which are hollow, and juicy with a bitter-flavored milk.
The seed-globe of the Dandelion is a favorite with children, by whom it is named a “clock”; its seeds are furnished with feathery plumes, which serve as wings to waft them abroad. The flower-stem too is easily split when plucked, and curls into enchanting spirals that no youthful taste may resist. When cut off short by the cruel lawn-mower, these generous plants put forth fresh golden discs close to the ground within the leaves.