Dandelion
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion (pronunciation: /ˈdændɪlaɪən/ DAN-di-ly-ən) is a common flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. The term "dandelion" is derived from the French "dent de lion", meaning "lion's tooth", a reference to the tooth-like serrations on the plant's leaves.
Description
Dandelions are perennial plants, growing in temperate regions of the world. They are characterized by their bright yellow flowers and distinctive, deeply serrated leaves. The plant produces a spherical seed head, often referred to as a "dandelion clock", which disperses its seeds on the wind.
Medicinal Uses
Historically, dandelions have been used in herbal medicine for their diuretic, liver-supporting, and digestive properties. The leaves are often consumed in salads, while the roots can be dried and used to make a coffee substitute. Dandelion is also used in homeopathic remedies and is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Related Terms
- Asteraceae: The family of flowering plants to which the dandelion belongs.
- Herbal medicine: The use of plants for medicinal purposes.
- Diuretic: A substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine.
- Anti-inflammatory: A substance that reduces inflammation.
- Antioxidant: A substance that inhibits oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals, thereby leading to chain reactions that may damage the cells of organisms.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dandelion
- Wikipedia's article - Dandelion
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski