Oh, no. What's that? A dandelion. A great big ugly dandelion, its brazen yellow blossom mocking you from the middle of your gorgeous green lawn. You groan, dreading the start of your annual attack. The first dandelion leers up at you as you prepare to open season. Grumbling under your breath, you reach for your trusty dandelion digger...
Stop. Reconsider. Have you ever paused to think about precisely why you attempt, always unsuccessfully, to eradicate your dandelion population? Are dandelions violently poisonous? No: parts of them are edible, in fact. Are they prickly like thistles or dangerous like poison ivy? Of course not. Are they even unsightly? Not really, unless you just happen to hate flowers.
All too often, people simply take for granted that dandelions are a nuisance, without ever bothering to think about it. We assume that since everyone knows how noisome dandelions are, it must be true. Yet dandelions are one of the most amazing plants in the world, and they have a lot to teach us.
First, let's take a close look at that dandelion you were about to rip out by the roots. Ah, yes, the roots; we all know about those! Each taproot sinks a foot or more into the soil, allowing the plant to survive if the leafy crown is pulled away. The narrow, deeply serrated leaves give the plant its most common name. "Dandelion" comes from the French "dent de lion," meaning "tooth of the lion."
These dark green leaves spread out in a flat rosette, and the flower stalks rise up from the center. Tiny round buds open into beautiful buttery-yellow blossoms. Dozens of miniature petals form the powder-puff head, surmounted by the pollen-wearing stamens that adorn your skin with gold dust as you inhale the sweet fragrance. The flower opens in the morning and closes at night or if it rains. After a few days, insects have pollinated the flower, and it stays closed for about a week while a wonderful metamorphosis takes place. When the flower opens again, the familiar yellow petals are gone, replaced by a silvery orb of parachutes. Under each parachute is a developing seed. In a short time, the seeds turn dark, then float away on the wind to sprout wherever they land.
So, how did the dandelion get here? Contrary to popular belief, dandelions are not native to North America. Instead, colonists brought seeds over from Europe. Much to their delight (and their descendants' disgust), the hardy plants thrived. Dandelion greens formed an important part of the colonists' diet, providing much-needed vitamins and minerals. Later, dandelions fell out of fashion, and now they are considered worthless weeds.
The earliest written reference to the dandelion appears in the tenth- century records of Arabian physicians. By the 16th century, it was known as a valuable drug, highly praised by British apothecaries. In the 19th century, dandelion was a popular potherb in Europe and America. Today it is the best-known weed in North America.
In all this time, the dandelion has accumulated a number of names. The scientific name, Taraxacum officinale, originated either from the Persian 'tark hashgun' (wild endive) or from the Greek 'taraxos' (disorder) and 'akos' (remedy). Most botanists favor the Greek derivation. Common names include Irish daisy, puffball, priest's crown, and peasant's cloak.
Dandelions have a wide variety of applications; every part of the plant can be used for something. They appear in culinary, ritual, and cultural contexts.
If you live in the city, you may rarely have the pleasure of working with fresh herbs or flowers. Dandelions can be a delightful exception. Even in the heart of a busy urban center, a few dandelions usually poke through the pavement. Parks are also a good place to look, and no one will miss a few "useless weeds." You might have a small garden, a front yard, or other patch of green to call your own. If not, simply grow your dandelions in a flowerpot or window box. Even the brownest thumb has a hard time killing dandelions!
Wherever you live, dandelions can become a part of your life. Look for the first sprout as a sign of spring, and the white puffballs as a herald of autumn. Learn to appreciate what they have to offer, instead of dismissing them as a nuisance just because everyone else does. Soon the sign of a jaunty yellow blossom poking through a crack in the pavement will bring a smile to your face, a welcome touch of magic peeking into the mundane.
~by Elizabeth Barrette
Also read these ebooks:
Andrew Lang - Myth Ritual And ReligionAnonymous - Reaching Out To Wiccans
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