Invasion Biology Introduced Species Summary Project University (2024)

Introduced Species Summary Project
Dandelion(Taraxacum officinale)

CommonName: Dandelion

Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Classification: Plantae

Phylum or Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily:

Identification:Dandelion derives its name from the french term ‘dentde lion’ meaning ‘tooth of the lion’. Dandelions are perennial, herbaceous plantsthat grow best in moist, sunny areas found in all parts of the northerntemperate zone. The plant grows yearround but goes dormant in areas that experience a cold winter. The dandelion taproot, thick, sturdy and darkbrown, can penetrate the soil up to 10 to 15 feet. The buds grow from the uppermost area of theroot where a tight crown is formed. Hereadditional plants can grow even if the root has been cut into the soil and isonly one inch in length. Leaves, shiny and hairless, are 3 to 12 inches longand ½ to 2 ½ inches wide and always form a basal rosette shape, meaning theyall branch out from the center. They resemble canine teeth pointing upright orbackwards. The flowering stalk can reachlengths from 6 to 24 inches. The headcontains 100 to 300 ray flowers and when cut off, a bitter, milky substanceleaks out from the stem. Beneath the floret of bright golden yellow, five tinypetals sit above a tube filled with an abundance of nectar.

Original Distribution: Though the dandelion has been carriedfrom place to place since before written history, it can at least be said thatthe plant is native to Europe and Asia.The earliest recordings can be found in Roman times and use has been noted bythe Anglo Saxon tribes of Britainand the Normans of France. In the tenth and eleventh centuries there is mentionof dandelions used for medicinal purposes in the works of Arabianphysicians.

Current Distribution:Dandelions have been established in the Americas,Australia, and New Zealand amongst many other temperate regionssuch as Austria,Italy, Poland,and Turkey andthroughout the United States.India, forexample has largely cultivated the plant to use as a <![if !vml]><![endif]>remedy for liverproblems.

Dandelions can grow just about anywhere, namely fields, lawns, forests,gardens or even wastelands. They tend togrow more in areas laden with sunlight rather than under trees or shadyspots. The plant can be found morecommonly in disturbed areas such as an avalanche site, a burned forest andmarshlands to name a few and anywhere from sea level to high alpine elevations.

Site and Date of Introduction: Dandelions havespread throughout the northern hemisphere for so long that it is difficult todetermine their nonnative status. It hasbeen noted however, that the Puritans found dandelions to be so useful thatthey brought them to settle in the new county.

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Mode(s) of Introduction: Throughouthistory, dandelions have been purposely carried across oceans and continents byhuman beings. European settlers broughtthese plants intentionally to America. Ships that cameashore to the New World undoubtedly brought soil andseeds along including the seeds of dandelions. While the plant spreaddiscretely in a pant cuff or in a boot sole, it was also an invitedspecies.

Reason(s) Why it hasBecome Established:There are many various reasons why the dandelion has become established. The most intended purposes of the dandelionwas for medicine, food and wine. In the17^th century when dandelions were brought to the New World, they were mainly used by the Puritans as a source ofmedicine. Dandelion was not valued as a food commodity but instead as hosting avariety of health benefits. As the men toiled the land, the women wouldgarden. Though they did not understandwhy, the leaf, root and flower were believed to have significant results inalleviating ailments. Dandelion was also cultivated because it was a plant theywere familiar with and could trust in this foreign land. Thus, the womanplanted dandelion seeds for its medicinal benefits and to spread a flower thatreminded them of home.

<![if !vml]><![endif]>The dandelion speciesis not easy to contain. Just by blowingthe puffball, the head flies away spreading a couple hundred seeds up tohundred of miles away depending on the wind strength. It was reported that by 1672, the plant waswell established in New England. Spaniards broughtdandelion to California and Mexico,while the French introduced them to Canadahelping the plant to move swiftly across the continent.

EcologicalRole: Dandelion are associated with the following common shrubs,grasses, and forbs; common snowberry, Wood’s rose, russet buffalo berry,blueberry, chokecherry, black sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush, Oregon-grape,rough fescue, Idaho fescue, slender wheatgrass, prairie Junegrass,timber danthonia, Richardson’s needlesgrass, tufted hairgrass,bluegrass, aster, willowweed, prairie smoke avens, small-leaf angelic, Colorado columbine, rhexia-leaved paintbrush, Oregon fleabane to name some.

While dandelion commonly cultivate in disturbed areas, the length of timethe plant remains prevalent varies from ecosystem to ecosystem. It may reach a peak after a few years or laststeadily for as much as ten. Afterharvesting, dandelion is a predominant species. Once an area has beenovergrazed, dandelions germinate. Whenthere has been overgrazing, dandelion appear. However, dandelion would notexist on rangelands because they cannot withstand competition for water,nutrients, and sunlight.

Benefit(s):Small birds feed off of the dandelion seeds.Pigs, goats and rabbits will eat the plant. The flower proves nectar forhoney bees.

The dandelion has countless health benefits and palatable applications.Europeans used the plant to treat fevers, boils, eye problems, diarrhea, fluidretention, liver congestion, heartburn, and skin ailments. Dandelion was usedin China, Indiaand Russia totreat breast <![if !vml]><![endif]>problems, liverdiseases, appendicitis and digestive problems.

Dandelion is seen as aiding digestion due to its bitter principlesthought to stimulate salivary and gastric juices. The root can improve bileflow which would help alleviate liver congestion, bile duct inflammation,hepatitis, gallstones and jaundice.Dandelion leaves create diuretic activity which can cause considerableweight loss. Studies have shown that theplant can produce antibodies to cancer and can buffer blood glucose levels fordiabetics.

All parts of the plant can be eaten and are often found in salads,roasted, fried, mixed in pancakes or made into wine, tea, or a coffee-likedrink. Dandelions have a taste similarto chicory or endive with a bitter tinge.

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Threat(s): The dandelionhas a low ecological impact and provides no real damage to the ecosystem. The major negative aspect of the dandelion isthe difficulty in exterminating it in yards or places where people do not wantthe plant to grow. Dandelions are often considered an annoying weed and arefound most commonly in highly disturbed ecosystems such as lawns.

ControlLevel Diagnosis: Dandelions have a fairly low threat to ecosystems. It seems only necessary to control thespecies when seen as an aesthetic problem or ‘weed’.

Control Method: Dandelionsare one of the most difficult weeds to control since the seeds can spreadquickly and easily by wind. The seeds donot need to be planted and can germinate on their own under mostconditions. It is best to attempt tostop the proliferation when dandelions are still seedlings because onceestablished, the specie is very hard to disrupt. The ways to control dandelion growth aremainly sweep tillage and disking, crop competition, forage management andherbicide options. The most successful approach is to combine a croppingprogram with the use of herbicides to prevent dandelion establishment. With good crop competition, dandeliongermination can be stifled. Using herbicideapplication during the fall is most effective.The measures that can be taken in a direct seeding system are;pre-seeding, early spring in-crop, pre-harvest, post-harvest, summer fallow,termination of perennial forage. Tocontrol dandelions, a combination of approaches should be taken seriously sincethe plant can establish itself rapidly.

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