Dandelion

The stems of the dandelion flower are hollow and are crowned with a single yellow flower, which after a few days turns into a ghostly globe of delicate feathery seeds or, as they’re correctly called in the world of botany ‘achenes’.

If you like the contrast of peppery greens like rocket in your salad, you will love the taste of dandelion leaves. Pick the leaves of plants that haven’t yet flowered as the older leaves will taste too bitter. The flowers will add a hot, sunny flavour to salads whilst the roots can be prepared into a coffee substitute.

Dandelion can also be used as a natural dye with the root giving various shades of red, while the flower will give shades of wheat and yellow.

Dandelion is a virtual pharmacological wonder, with properties to treat the blood, skin and digestive tract.

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