|[ Sizes: Orig | Large | Med | Small | Thumb ]| Taraxacum
officinale, the Common Dandelion (often simply called
"dandelion"), is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family
Asteraceae (Compositae). It can be found growing in temperate
regions of the world, in lawns, on roadsides, on disturbed banks
and shores of water ways, and other areas with moist soils. T.
officinale is considered a weedy species, especially in lawns
and along roadsides, but it is sometimes used as a medical herb
and in food preparation. As a nearly cosmopolitan weed,
Dandelion is best known for its yellow flower heads that turn
into round balls of silver tufted fruits that blow away on the
wind.