(09-May-98; Malloryville Fen; along roadside)
Dandelion
Family: Daisy Alien
Season: spring-summer-fall
Dandelion
An exceedingly common flower in fields and lawns, blooming spring/summer/fall - but the big bloom is mid-spring. Bright-yellow, multi-rayed, flower disk borne on individual stems from base. Flowers (and seedheads) open and close daily and with sun/rain. Jagged, otherwise-oblong, leaves arising from base. Familiar globular downy seedhead with wind-carried, downy-parasol seeds.
The ultimate alien-invasion species - an escaped European garden flower that most folk think is native because it is so common. Prefers mowed areas best - bane of lawns. Leaves delicous in salads - usually can be bought at local markets. Milky sap.