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lized parts of the world, and in this country is naturalized from 
Europe. With the exception of the South, it is very abundant 
throughout the United States in fields and waste places, and it is espe- 
cially troublesome in lawns and meadows. 
Fie. 4.—Dandelion root, 16 inches long. 
Description.—The dandelion is so well 
known a weed, especially in lawns, that 
it scarcely requires a description, almost 
everyone being familiar with its rosette 
of coarsely toothed leaves, golden-yel- 
low flowers, and round fluffy seed heads. 
‘It is a perennial plant of the chicory 
family (Cichoriacee), and it may be 
said to be in flower throughout almost 
the entire year. In spring the young 
leaves are collected and used for greens 
or salad, but the part employed in med- 
icine is the root. The flowering stem 
of the dandelion is usually longer than 
the smooth, shining green, coarsely 
toothed leaves, reaching a height of 
* from 5 to 10 inches. It is erect, 
smooth, naked, and hollow, bearing at 
the summit a solitary yellow flower 
head, which opens in the morning and 
only in fair weather. The entire plant 
contains a white, milky juice. 
Part used.—As already stated, the 
root of dandelion is used medicinally. 
It is a large taproot, sometimes 20 
inches long, thick and fleshy, dull-yel- 
low or brownish on the outside, white 
inside, practically without odor, and 
_ bitter. (Fig. 4.) Dandelion is often 
used as a tonic in diseases of the liver 
and in dyspepsia. 
The best time for digging dandelion 
root is from July to September, dur- 
ing which time the milky juice becomes 
thicker and the bitterness increases. 
It should be carefully washed and thor- 
oughly dried. Dandelion roots decrease considerably in size by dry- 
ing, weighing less than half as much as the fresh roots and becoming 
wrinkled lengthwise. The dried root should not be kept too long, 
as drying diminishes its medicinal virtues. 
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