Common Australian Garden Weeds

Taraxacum officinale

Scientific name: Taraxacum officinale Weber


Flower-heads of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).


Close-up of the flower-heads that are borne singly on un-branched, leafless stems.


Leaves of dandelion which form a rosette.


Close-up of a dandelion leaf showing the regularly toothed (pinnatifid) margin.


A mature flower-head of dandelion with many wind-blown seeds just prior to their release.

Common name: Dandelion

Family: Asteraceae

Origin:

Native of Europe.

Habit:

Short-lived perennial herb which develops a rosette of leaves and a deep tap-root. Flower-heads are carried on the top of erect 30 cm long stalks.

Habitat:

Widespread and common weed of lawns, roadsides, neglected areas and sometimes pastures and cultivation.

General description:

Stems and leaves
The leaves are deeply divided and somewhat saw-toothed in outline (6-25 x 1-6 cm in size) and the margins also toothed. Leaves may be hairless or have sparse rough hairs. Plant contain a white latex sap.
Flowers and fruit
Flower-heads are yellow and daisy-like with discs of 'petals' (rays) approximately 3 cm across. Each flower-head is carried on a separate 30 cm long erect and hollow stalk. Flowering occurs during spring and early summer. Seeds are 4-4.5 mm long with a 8-12 mm long beak that has a 5-7 mm long white, silky tuft of hairs (pappus) at its apex.

Distinguishing features:

A short-lived perennial herb which forms a flat rosette of saw-toothed leaves and a deep tap-root. The plant contains a milky white sap. there are two other common weeds which also form flat rosettes of leaves, Hypochoeris radicata and Hypochoeris microcephalus var. albiflora, both commonly known as flatweeds. These three species are very similar when not in flower. When in flower flatweeds are easily distinguished form Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) by their branched flower stalks which carry more than one flower-head. Dandelion, on the other hand, carries a single flower-head on an unbranched stalk.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Guide to the Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.