Looking for Dandelion seed!

[Stephenb]

I just had a look at what is listed in the RHS on-line Plant Finder under Taraxacum:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder2.asp?crit=taraxacum&Genus=Taraxacum

I see that there are nurseries offering both T. faeroense and T. rubrifolium (under the wrong spelling) - wonder if these errors come from my seed trading activities...

T. albidum is listed by Linn Botanical Gardens and there's another T. "Nettleton" which isn't listed any more by the nursery in question.

The Thorp Nursery sounds like a place to visit - do you just call for an appointment? Do they have a speciality? Is the nursery at the same place as their address?

[Maggi Young]

The Thorp Nursery sounds like a place to visit - do you just call for an appointment? Do they have a speciality? Is the nursery at the same place as their address?

PeterT may be able to help with a speciality etc... info I found suggested to phone in advance.......

[TheOnionMan]

I wonder if Taraxacum carneocoloratum is still getting around in seed exchanges.  30 years ago it was quite popular in the ARGS (now NARGS) seed exchange, for which I'm partly responsible for keeping the momentum going.  If ever there was a rock garden dandelion, this was it, a tiny rosette and small semi-nodding bronzy-pink flowers, utterly charming.  It's from but a couple mountains in Alaska and Yukon Territory, Canada.  The Flora of Alaska by E. Hulten lists this as "extremely rare".  Another dwarf species, T. hypacticum is listed, described as having flowers that are white, purplish, or brown, although Flora of North America describes the flowers as: corollas cream-colored to white or pink-tinged distally, outer pinkish-striped abaxially.

T. carneocoloratum
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TACA6
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067702

distribution map:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=56302&flora_id=1

T. hyparcticum
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067704

[Stephenb]

A couple more for my wants list - we need a Dandelion revival! Hope someone has maintained that one. In the link I posted above to the UK Plant Finder (lists most of what is offered by UK nurseries each year), it says that carneocoloratum was last offered in 1998...

[TheOnionMan]

Adding to the Dandelion Revival , here are two endemic dandelion species from Cyprus.  Both photos are scanned from Cyprus Flora in Color - The Endemics, and posted here per fair non-commercial use.  The first is Taraxacum aphrogenes, which grows in rock fissures just above sea level; probably not hardy, but the foliage is certainly fascinating as is the small stature (up to 11 cm).  The second is T. holmboei found in a variety of mountain habitats including gravelly screes at 1200-1950 meters.  Stems generally less than 8 cm.  While yellow flowered, growing these dwarf rare species could help legitimize dandelions in the garden

[cohan]

I wonder if Taraxacum carneocoloratum is still getting around in seed exchanges.  30 years ago it was quite popular in the ARGS (now NARGS) seed exchange, for which I'm partly responsible for keeping the momentum going.  If ever there was a rock garden dandelion, this was it, a tiny rosette and small semi-nodding bronzy-pink flowers, utterly charming.  It's from but a couple mountains in Alaska and Yukon Territory, Canada.  The Flora of Alaska by E. Hulten lists this as "extremely rare".  Another dwarf species, T. hypacticum is listed, described as having flowers that are white, purplish, or brown, although Flora of North America describes the flowers as: corollas cream-colored to white or pink-tinged distally, outer pinkish-striped abaxially.

T. carneocoloratum
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TACA6
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067702

distribution map:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=56302&flora_id=1

T. hyparcticum
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067704

hyparcticum is one i mentioned before, having seen it at this site, where it looks very cute! the other flower colours you mention sound interesting as well, but the cream is very nice..
http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/_ca/www/astahy.htm
photo links are at the bottom of the page..
this is a good site overall for canadian arctic plants...
http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/_ca/

[Stephenb]

Adding to the Dandelion Revival , here are two endemic dandelion species from Cyprus.  Both photos are scanned from Cyprus Flora in Color - The Endemics, and posted here per fair non-commercial use.  The first is Taraxacum aphrogenes, which grows in rock fissures just above sea level; probably not hardy, but the foliage is certainly fascinating as is the small stature (up to 11 cm).  The second is T. holmboei found in a variety of mountain habitats including gravelly screes at 1200-1950 meters.  Stems generally less than 8 cm.  While yellow flowered, growing these dwarf rare species could help legitimize dandelions in the garden

Legitimizing Dandelions? Maybe I shouldn't have come out in the open and declared that I was (hush, hush) growing dandelions with intent!

Concerning Cypriot Dandelions, there have been a number of recent ethnobotanical studies in the Mediterranean countries concerning wild gathered food plants (basically interviews are conducted with old people in remote mountain villages where these traditions have survived). Funding has become available in recent years from EU and national governments due to increased interest in the Mediterranean diet and its health benefits. Traditionally wild gathered food was an important component of this diet. I have one study from Cyprus (Della, A et al,  An ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants of Paphos and Larnaca countryside of Cyprus) and two species are mentioned apart from officinale - T. cyprium (is this not an endemic?) and T. hellenicum (Preparation: Raw, usually dressed with oil, and vinegar or lemon; or eaten fresh with olives, onions and bread).

I have a list of some 7 species which have been positively identified as used in the Mediterranean region, although I'm sure people used any Dandelion that they came across...

[Maggi Young]

Legitimizing Dandelions?

BD (Ian Y) thinks his "pet" dandelion Taraxacum officionale is perfectly legitimate and has been these many years......... and points to its repeated appearance in the Bulb Log and even on  the cover of IRG to prove it!!

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Jul291280437029IRG7_July2010.pdf

 The other week a call I  answered to the BBC Scotland radio programme ''Beechgrove Potting Shed" was a woman calling to ask a question when Ian was on the panel and she specifically asked after his pet dandelion

[Stephenb]

Legitimizing Dandelions?

BD (Ian Y) thinks his "pet" dandelion Taraxacum officionale is perfectly legitimate and has been these many years......... and points to its repeated appearance in the Bulb Log and even on  the cover of IRG to prove it!!

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2010Jul291280437029IRG7_July2010.pdf

 The other week a call I  answered to the BBC Scotland radio programme ''Beechgrove Potting Shed" was a woman calling to ask a question when Ian was on the panel and she specifically asked after his pet dandelion

A splendid example and sorry I didn't notice it before! I now know what BD stands for too 

Does his pet TaRAXacum have a name? May I suggest Rax?  Does he take it for walks?

[Maggi Young]

RAX mostly just sits quietly, growing lush leaves and giving lots of flowers in his corner of a raised bed.  "Walks"..... in the form of spreading seedlings are NOT encouraged 

[cohan]

i saw that splendid dandelion in the IRG and was wondering what it was--seems to lead a pampered life indeed 
btw, there are dandelions surviving in our gravel driveway(last gravelling probably a couple of decades ago or more, hard packed clayey soil, mostly), and they are tiny, flat and reddish, just like arctic species, but i am sure they are just stressed officinale, and with a little water and looser soil would probably look like Rax!

[JoshY46013]

hehe,

  If only I could get rid of all the Dandelions in my yard I would feel incredibly blessed

[cohan]

hehe,

  If only I could get rid of all the Dandelions in my yard I would feel incredibly blessed

i have absolutely no hope of that, barring massive chemical warfare which would wipe out dozens of selfsown wildflower species  long before the dandelions would expire! as it stands, i could probably feed several head of  cows or horses overwinter on the dandelions in my yard were i to harvest them all!! i just try to keep the common species sort of limited in planted areas....
clover is a much greater bother, i must say and equally impossible to eradicate here..