Leaves are crowed in a basal rosette, blades are simple and variously lobed.
Blades may also be lightly pubescent, especially on the lower surfaces and mid-veins, and contains a milky substance. The most prominent feature is the flower head, which upon first opening contains a series of yellow ligulate flowers borne on a hollow pseudostem. Dandelion is generally an apomictic plant and seed production normally occurs without pollination. Seed production varies from 54 to 172 seeds per head and a single plant can produce more than 2000 seeds. Flowering peaks in early summer with a second flush of flowers from mid-September to early October.