They’re growing again. Those golden yellow “lawn suns” are not only in lush meadows, but everywhere the wind has blown the small seed parachutes from a previous summer.
These enduring plants can establish themselves anywhere. Who doesn’t recall seeing a lovely blooming dandelion in a crack in the asphalt? A symbol for nature’s endurance, and persistence!
A Spring Feast
A dandelion salad is a traditional spring treat where I live. It is stimulatory to the function of kidneys and is a diuretic, thanks to its botanical properties that gave the plant its name.
Taraxin contains a collection of chemicals such as inositol, asparagine, a reducing sugar, a bitter principle, saponin, tyrosinase, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, resinic acids, and cholin. The flowers contain inulin and a bitter alkaloid, taraxacin. The milky juice contains taraxin, inositol, and taraxacerin. It is a laxative, depurative, diuretic, stomachic, and a tonic.
Dandelion ought to be part of every detoxification regime, and is said to be a “fat burner.” In any event, dandelion is a healthful plant, full of vitamins, and mineral and trace elements such as zinc and copper. All parts of the plant are edible.
