DANDELION

Taraxacum officinale

Description
They are typically 5 to 40 cm tall; The stems are sparsely covered with short hairs; The leaf margins are typically lacerate or toothed; The fruits, which are called cypselae, are green or brown.

Uses
CULINARY
The leaves can be eaten cooked in various forms, such as in soup or salad. Dandelion flowers can be used to make dandelion wine or jam.

HERBAL MEDICINE
Dandelion is sold principally as a diuretic plant; Its used as a laxative, for increasing appetite, and for improving digestion.

Curiosity
The common name "dandelion" comes from the French phrase "dent de lion" which means "lion's tooth", in reference to the jagged shaped foliage.
The dandelion has various pharmacological properties, especially for bitter substances that also characterize his taste: tarassicina and inulin. Its diuretic properties are well known so its called bedwetting (wet the bed) in the country tradition.