The dandelion s official name is Taraxacum Officinale. This simply means the official remedy for disorders. The whole plant is actually edible. You can make a salad out of the greens and flower, make a drink out of the root or make a cooked veggie out of any part, although I think I will leave the puffball for the birds. Most people try to poison their dandelions with chemicals that are harmful to humans, so don t gather from lawns treated with chemicals.
Wildlife love it.
Blackbirds and sparrows love the seeds, while deer, moose, elk, black bears, grizzlies, chipmunks and prairie dogs eat the plants. That s more than most multi-vitamins. Some herbalists say the milky substance from the stem treats warts. Apply once a day for up to 5 days. Hey, it may not work, but the bugs will love you.