TABAXACTO. 143 



Scientific Terms. Corymb. Corymbous. Cypsela. Florets 



of the ray. Florets of the disk. Gamopetalous. Ligulate corolla. 

 Polypetalous. Eays. Scabrous. Tubular corolla. 



XXXVII. THE DANDELION. 



Dear common flower, that growest beside the way, 



Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold, 

 Tis the Spring 1 s largess which she scatters now. 



LOWELL. 



Description. There are animals which shun the savage 

 haunts of the wilderness, and with determined choice seek 

 the habitations of man. So there are plants, foreigners 

 mostly, such as the Plantain, Pigweed, and Dandelion, which 

 nourish only or chiefly around human dAvellings. Early and 

 late, in Spring, Summer and Autumn, the golden discs of 

 the Dandelion develop from the manipulated soil of the 

 gardens, fields, and fence-rows. Other plants we may value 

 for their rarity ; but this delights us for its very common- 

 ness, and the associations of childhood which linger about it.* 



Analysis. THE LEAF REGIOK. Here we have an acau- 

 lescent plant a plant with no visible proper stem. The 

 leaves and flower-stalks rise directly from the top of the 

 strong, axial, fleshy, perennial root. A milky white juice 

 pervades the whole plant, exuding from the root, leaves, 

 flowers, wherever bruised or broken. This juice contains 

 caoutchouc, but no opium. The leaves differ in pattern 

 from any hitherto described. All are radical, and oblong in 

 their general outline, with the margins cut into prominent 

 lobes and teeth which are inclined backward a form called 

 runcinate (re-uncinate, or hooked backward). 



* Besides the uses of the Dandelion for the bee, butterfly, and childhood, and the 

 pleasant memories it brings to age, it serves other purposes. The young leaves when 

 blanched are esteemed in France as an excellent salad. The green growing leaves are 

 used generally as a pot-herb. The root is a valuable remedial agent. 



