Description

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a perennial weed with a thick, fleshy taproot and no stem. Leaves grow in a rosette from the crown. They are long, narrow, irregularly lobed, and lance shaped. The lobed tips are often opposite each other and pointing toward the crown. Leaves are often purple at the base and leaves and flower stalks emit a milky white sap when broken. The deep golden yellow flowers are borne in heads on long hollow stalks. Blossoms soon mature into spherical clusters of whitish fruits, like white puffballs, composed of parachute-like seeds. Seeds are carried by the wind. Cat's ear dandelion is similar to common dandelion. Common dandelion plants can be distinguished because young leaves do not have hairs, whereas cat's ear dandelion leaves have dense hairs.

Cultural Control

Perennial broadleaf turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.

Species Data

• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • perennial weed
• GROWTH HABIT
  • rosette
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7
• LEAFLET NUMBER
  • one
• LEAF MARGIN
  • irregular border; lobes point back toward base of plant
    Figure 8
• LEAF HAIRS
  • older leaves may have hairs
• LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
  • young leaves are oval to spatulate; older leaves are lance-shaped or oblong
• LEAF WIDTH
  • ¹⁄₂ - 1 inch
• LEAF VENATION
  • pinnate
    Figure 9
• LEAF ARRANGEMENT
  • whorled or basal rosette
• ROOT TYPE
  • taproot
• FLOWER COLOR
  • yellow
    Figure 3, Figure 10