Dandelion | Taraxacum

Taraxacum (/təˈraeksəkʊm/) is a vast genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family that includes species that are often referred to as dandelions. Taraxacology is the scientific and recreational study of the genus. The genus T. officinale (common dandelion) and T. erythrospermum (red-seeded dandelion) are native to Eurasia and North America, but the two most common species worldwide, T. officinale (common dandelion) and T. erythrospermum (red-seeded dandelion), were introduced to North America from Europe and now thrive as wildflowers. Both of these species are completely edible. Specific species of the genus are also known as dandelion (/dndla.n/ DAN-di-ly-n, from French dent-de-lion, meaning 'lion's tooth').