Dandelion (Taraxacum agg)
Although often unpopular in gardens, dandelions are one of the first plants to bloom in spring. They brighten up grassy areas and provide an abundant early source of nectar and pollen for insects, especially those emerging from hibernation. The flowerheads contain up to 200 individual florets which close up at night or in dull weather.
The name Dandelion comes from the French dent de lion meaning lion’s tooth, a reference to the sharp, pointed lobes of its leaves. The scientific name is usually recorded as an aggregate (agg.) as there are over 200 species of dandelion recorded in Britain and Ireland, and they are difficult to tell apart.