Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma Alfalfa
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station

Dandelion

COMMON NAME: Dandelion
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Taraxacum officinale Weber in Wiggers
TYPE: Simple Perennial, can grow year round
DESCRIPTION                                              
    Germination: September-June.
    Reproduction: By seeds, April-October.
    Stems: Stemless scapes, hollow, without hair to slightly pubescent, and they contain a milky juice.
Leaves: All basal  with simple blades that are oblanceolate with various lobes. They are usually pubescent, contain a milky juice.
    Flowers/
Inflorescence:
The flowers of the Dandelion are yellow, small, and ligulated.
    Fruit: The fruit is a one-seeded achene that has a slightly flattened body with a beak  The pappus is of white bristles.

FOUND:

The Dandelion is primarily found on rangeland, pastures, meadows, lawns, and waste places in all soil types.

CONTROL:

Not a weed problem in alfalfa in Oklahoma, so usually don't recommend controlling.  January-February application of SINBAR or VELPAR will suppress dandelions in thinning stands.
In Alfalfa tn_dandlion-496_jpg.jpg (2879 bytes)
Plant
tn_dandelion-01_jpg.jpg (3973 bytes)
Leaf
tn_dandelion-02_jpg.jpg (3515 bytes)
Plant
Seed Head
Additional Dandelion Images
Jim Stritzke
Former Alfalfa Weed Control Specialist
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Oklahoma State University

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