The dandelion has a smooth, straight, and hollow stem, and the entire plant contains a white, milky juice. The root is long, thick, and pointed and has hairlike branches growing from it. The dandelion differs from most other plants in the way it reproduces. Young dandelion leaves can be used in salads or they can be cooked. They taste best when they are young, before the plant has blossomed.
Wine sometimes is made from the dandelion flowers.
In order to keep dandelion plants from growing on lawns, gardeners must cut deep into their roots. Slicing close under the surface only encourages the plants to grow. Gardeners sometimes spray dandelions with chemicals that destroy the dandelions but do not harm grass. The dandelion is a member of the composite family, Compositae. The scientific name for the common dandelion is Taraxacum officinale.