The much maligned Dandelion seems to have followed in the footsteps of European colonists. Wherever they went, Dandelions were sure to follow. The first documented trip to the Americas was on the Mayflower, not because the seeds were accidentally carried over on the soles of their shoes…but because they brought Dandelion seed with them to sow in their gardens….not for beauty…for eating and medicine.
As Ronald Taylor pointed out in his book “Northwest Weeds”, “The common Dandelion may be the world’s most widespread plant.”
Although lawn keepers and gardeners question why I’d even bother presenting such an obnoxious weed…foragers know the true value of this tasty herb.
The leaves are often plucked and added to other salad greens. They have a “bitter” taste so are rarely eaten alone…but with the right accompaniment, the leaves are a pleasing complimentary salad ingredient. A handful of raw greens contain as much calcium and vitamins A, C, thiamine, and riboflavin as most multi-vitamins.
You can take just the leaves or you can pull the entire plant..flowers and roots diced up make a tangy addition to soups and salads. Additionally, the roots have been used for centuries to make a drink that some call a coffee substitute. Others will argue that there is no substitute for coffee. The flower heads have also been used for generations to make an alcohol drink some have the audacity to call a wine…but, none-the-less will produce the desired effect.
Medicinally, the Dandelion has been used to try and cure just about every ailment known to humanity. Its most long lasting medical use is as a diuretic. Many plants are used to increase urination but the Dandelion tops the list because it also replaces the potassium that is generally lost through urination.
The usual cautions apply…avoid dandelions that have been sprayed or rooted in contaminated soil…and always avoid gathering for consumption any plant growing next to a road or in a roadside ditch. Also, for the right experience, make certain you have the right plant. There are many Dandelion look-alikes in fields on the island…none that I know of are poisonous but the taste will be less interesting…Hawkweed, Sow-Thislte, Nipple-wort, Salsify and Cat’s Ear come to mind…
The flowers appear early in the year. I see their colorful heads in February in my yard. Because the flowers appear so early they are an important source of food for queen bees emerging from their hives after a winter hibernation.
My only complaint about Dandelion is simply that the deer eat everything else in my yard but never the Dandelions. Maybe my complaint is really about deer and not Dandelions..
Dal Neitzel