Chinese regard the whole plant as useful for abscesses, boils, snakebites, ulcers and other internal injuries. The dandelion is a perennial plant with a deep, thick taproot. A rosette of basal leaves emerge from the crown of the plant. The leaves are long, narrow, deeply notched with backward pointed lobes. The leaves and flower stalk contain a milk-like juice.
Flower stalks are long and slender and terminate in a single flower.
The flower head is surrounded by narrow pointed bracts with the outer ones curved backwards. The dandelion flowers from April through June and seed mature and disperse quickly after the bloom appears. After flowering begins, 2,4-D will twist and curl the leaves and flower stalks, but the plants often survive the treatment.