Perennial herb to 50 cm tall, glabrous to hairy. Leaves oblanceolate, to 40 cm long, to 10 cm wide, toothed to divided, petiole winged. Capitula to 7.5 cm across, stalks hollow; most of year. Florets golden yellow. Achenes to 12 mm long including beak, body toothed at apex. Pappus white or cream.

Naturalised and cultivated plants are difficult to determine to species level, but are thought to belong mainly to Taraxacum section Ruderalia. For key to sections see Dudman & Richards (1997).

The name T. officinale Weber has often been equated with the whole genus, but is now correctly referable to a localised species from Swedish Lapland.

Plants are grown for their leaves, which may be used as a salad vegetable, and also for their roots, which are edible.

Created by: Rob Cross

Updated by: Rob Cross, February 2018