Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg., Asteraceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: common dandelion, dandelion, lion's-tooth

French: dent de lion, pissenlit vulgaire

Hawaiian: lauhele, laulele

Japanese: seiyo-tanpopo

Spanish: achicoria amarga, achicoria silvestre, amargón, chicoria, diente de león, lechugilla, taraxaco, taraxacon

Habit:  herb

Description:  "An almost stemless, lactiferous, deeply rooted perennial herb; taproot thick, branched, deep; stems acaulescent, 1 to 2.5 cm, internodes extremely short, at or below soil surface; leaves in radial rosettes, usually pubescent, 5 to 25 cm long, highly variable in shape from lobeless to toothed edges to highly incised; if lobed, the lobes point to the leaf base that narrows into a short, hollow petiole; every sixth leaf overlaps in the rosette; inflorescence involucrate flower head resembling a single flower, 2 to 5 cm in diameter, terminal, solitary on 5 to 45 cm long, hollow, cylindrical, unbranched, glabrous peduncle or scape, each head or capitulum a composite of 50 to 250 small bright yellow ligulate or ray florets; involucre oval-cylindrical with lanceolate, obtuse, herbaceous bracts, green to brownish, the inner ones of uniform length and 1-serrate, the outer ones unequal, one-third to one-half as long as the inner bracts and many-seriate; all bracts reflexed at maturity; receptacle convex, minutely pitted, without paleae; florets perfect, irregular, all ray florets, corolla of 5 united petals with one side prolonged, strap-shaped, golden yellow, 5-notched at the tip; anthers 5, fused into tube with sagittate base, filiform basal lobes and obtuse apex; style fuzzy beneath point of dividing into 2 stigmas; fruit a dry, indehiscent achene narrowly obovoid-oblong, 3 to 4 mm long, 1 mm wide, 5- to 8-ribbed on each side with upwardly pointed teeth at apex, light brown, apex beaked, topped by pappus; pappus composed of numerous hairs, 3 to 4 mm long, mostly white, persistent and connate at the base, forming a short ring.  The sticky, white juice throughout the plant, lobed leaves, hollow naked flower stalk, strap-shaped brilliant yellow ray flowers and white seed heads are the distinguishing characteristics of this species"  (Holm et al., 1997; p. 830).

"Leaves oblanceolate, 6-40 cm long, 0.7-15 cm wide, more or less runcinate-pinnatifid or lobed, the terminal lobe usually larger than the others, usually sparsely pubescent on lower surface and midrib, otherwise glabrous.  Scapes 5-50 cm long, glabrous or villous; involucre (1-) 1.5-2.5 cm high, the inner bracts usually 13-20, erect, eventually becoming reflexed.  Achenes pale gray or yellow at maturity, the body 3-4 mm long, the beak 2.5-4 times as long as the body" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 361).

Habitat/ecology:  "It is found from near sea level to the mountainous regions in temperate climates and in the higher elevations of tropical countries.  It is especially adapted to pastures, lawns, orchards, hay fields, roadsides and other areas of permanent vegetation with occasional disturbance.  Plants thrive in hay fields, pastures, roadsides and waste areas.  It is one of the most widely distributed weeds of Europe, North America and Asia"  (Holm et al., 1997; pp. 828, 830).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in lawns and at higher elevations in usually wet, disturbed habitats" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 361).  In Fiji, "a lawn weed at an elevation of about 850 m (probably infrequent in or absent from warmer parts of the archipelago" (Smith, 1991; p. 268).  In Tonga, "in dooryards and about dwellings" (Yuncker, 1959; p. 170).  "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions: High altitude close to the timber line; medium altitude up to the timber line; low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0 - 500 m.  Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3-5 months. Precipitations of 400-800 mm. are concentrated in winter. Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north. Some shadow. Some protection against direct sunlight, some shadow from vegetation, filtering about 20 - 40 % of light"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  Wind-borne seed.

Native range:  Eurasia

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 206)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 18) "A common weed of lawns, grassland, roadsides etc.". Vouchers cited: A.N. Rodd 1439 (K, NSW); J. Pickard in A.N. Rodd 1335 (NSW); 1898, J.H. Maiden (NSW); 1920, J.L. Boorman (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 8) "A common weed of lawns, grassland, roadsides etc.". Voucher cited: G. Uhe 1127 (K)
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (p. 29)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Cuevas, Jaime G./Marticorena, Alicia/Cavieres, Lohengrin A. (2004) (p. 538) Voucher cited: CONC 158055, JF 315
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 558)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1991) (p. 268) Voucher cited: Greenwood 1172
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: B. Huguenin s.n. (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 26) Voucher cited: St. John 14470 (BISH)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 361)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 361)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 361)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 361) Voucher cited: Brigham et al. s. n. (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 7) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H110128 (BISH, PTBG) Locally common but not widespread.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 361) Voucher cited: Forbes 1228
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands	introduced	Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Lifou	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: Sarasin 779 (Z), MacKee 5255 Spontané
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: MacKee 5138, MacKee 12188, MacKee 26657, MacKee 32927 Spontané
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Kermadec Islands	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 346) "Waste land, tracks and roadsides, railway land, lawns, gardens, pasture, grassland, river flats".
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 97)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 68-69) Not common. Voucher cited: CHR 170427
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 12)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 47)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 621) Naturalized in lawns, altitude about 1,400 m.
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced	St. John, H. (1987) (p. 54)
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands	Pitcairn Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 11024 (PAP) Adventice
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 12)
Tonga Tonga Islands	Tonga Islands	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 270) "Throughout Tonga".
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 270) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15412
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 270) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15205

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 359)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 359)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 359)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 359)
China China	China (People's Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Japan Japan	Japan		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 190)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 346) "Waste land, tracks and roadsides, railway land, lawns, gardens, pasture, grassland, river flats".
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Belov, Michail (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	uncertain if introduced invasive	Ching-I Peng, ed. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 828)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 359)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Taraxacum officinale, please let us know.