of the first plants to begin growth in the spring and when the herb- 

 age is removed, as in grazing, it continues growth and retains its 

 succulence until fall if moisture conditions are favorable. The 

 leaves may be upright, or if the plant cover is unusually dense or the 

 growth rank, they may be spreading. Under intensive grazing and 

 denuded soil conditions, dandelion plants usually cling to the ground, 

 which prevents complete use of the foliage. Because of its strong, 

 deep taproot, dandelion is able to withstand trampling and heavy 

 use. 



The presence of dandelion on the range may or may not indicate 

 overgrazed conditions, and therefore its classification as an indicator 

 of overgrazing must be carefully qualified. It occurs frequently in 

 protected pastures and similar locations which support a normally 

 undisturbed plant cover of weeds and grasses, indicative of satisfac- 

 tory growing conditions. It also occurs on sites where the normal 

 plant cover has been depleted as a result of overgrazing or less 

 favorable moisture conditions due to abnormal drainage, trampling, 

 and drought. 



The dandelion is a pest in lawns, etc. It is outstandingly aggressive 

 and persistent because of its deep and stout taproot, many leaves, 

 and abundant, widely scattered seed. The fact that it is found from 

 sea level almost to timber line indicates its adaptability to a great 

 variety of conditions, especially with regard to temperature and 

 length of growing period. 



The dandelion is a good hcney plant in the more humid parts of 

 the country, its copious blooms being the source of large quantities 

 of nectar and pollen, although their season of production is often 

 short. 1 2 Dandelion has long been cultivated for greens, the more 

 delicate early growth of the wild plants being used for that purpose. 

 Its bitter root is used medicinally as a tonic, and liver stimulant. 3 * 



From an evolutionary standpoint dandelion is of great interest ; its deep 

 perennial taproot, milky juice, leaf rosettes, immense vitality, aggressiveness, 

 and intense efficiency in the production and dissemination of seed enable it to 

 withstand extreme variations in growth conditions, as reflected by its cosmo- 

 politan distribution. Many botanists consider it the most specialized of plants 

 and place it at the evolutionary summit of the plant kingdom. 



The leaves of dandelion are wholly basal. Its flowers are generally produced 

 in the spring and summer and, under favorable conditions, throughout the 

 year. Dandelion leaves are oblong, divided into a number of opposite lobes 

 with curved tips pointing toward the base of the plant. The flower stalk 

 each plant has one or more terminates in a single flower head. The bracts, 

 which in the bud enclose the flower head, are double-rowed, both rows subse- 

 quently folding under the base of the head, the outer row before flowering 

 and the inner row shortlv after the petals are lost. 



The scientific name Lcontodon and the common name dandelion both signify 

 lion's tooth, in reference to the peculiarly jagged leaf edges. 



1 Pellett, F. C. AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS, TOGETHER WITH THOSE WHICH ARE OP 

 SPECIAL VALUE TO THE BEEKEEPER AS SOURCES OF POLLEN. Ed. 3, T6V. and enl., 419 pp., 



illus. Hamilton, 111. 1930. 



2 Vansell, G. H. NECTAR AND POLLEN PLANTS OF CALIFORNIA. Calif. Agr. Expt. Sta. 

 Bull. 517. [60] pp. 1931. 



3 Lyons. A. B. PLANT NAMES SCIENTIFIC AND POPULAR . . . Ed. 2, thoroughly rev. 

 and enl., 630 pp. Detroit. 1907. 



* Sievers, A. F. AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS OF COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE. U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Misc. Pub. 77, 74 pp., illus. 1930. 



