Spokes

by Connie Handscomb

Title

Spokes

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

Dandelion - Common Dandelion (Lion's Tooth; fortuneteller; blowball; faceclock; Irish daisy)
Taraxacum officinale
Family : Asteraceae (Composite)

Dandelion : fr Latin dens leonis = lion's teeth (the leaves are toothed); also French dent de lion = tooth of the lion

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Nature's Design and Technologies are far superior to human science and technology. They were created and have bene continually refined over billions of years of evolution, during which the inhabitants of the Earth Household flourished and diversified without ever usin gup their natural capital - the planet's resources and ecosystem services on which the well-being of all living creatures depend.
~ Fritjof Capra [fr. The Hidden Connections]

A weed is a plant whose virtues have never been discovered.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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While this wildflower is now naturalized throughout North America, the dandelion's original origins are in debate.

Medicinally, Arabian physicians have used the dandelion since the 10th century, and British apothecaries of the 16th century considered this plant invaluable. This plant is a powerful diuretic. It also helps the body digest fats, detoxifies the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and is used for skin conditions (acne, eczema, psoriasis). The large taproot is a mild anti-flammatory. Joint pains and stiffness are also conditions treated with the dandelion. Fresh dandelion juice fights bacteria and heals wounds. The milky sap removes corns and warts. A tea from the dried root cleanses the kidneys, gallbladder, and urinary tract.

As a food, almost all parts can be eaten. It has been eaten for centuries. It is presumed the dandelion arrived in North America with the European settlers as a pot herb. The leaves are rich in antioxidant carotenoids, potassium, iron, calcium, and Vitamins A, B, C, and D, and are least bitter in the early spring. They are most commonly used in salads; also, cooked like spinach. The crown can be deepfried. Flowers can be fried in butter, or used to make wine. The large taproots can grow to 12 inches long; they can be roasted, ground, and used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute. The fleshy taproot can grow 2.5m deep into the ground; they can be cooked like carrots.

During WW II, dandelions were cultivated for the latex extracted from the roots to make rubber.

The leaves can be used in baths and for facial steams.

The flower can be used to make yellow dye for wool (using the whole plant produces a magenta colour). The whole dandelion, roots and all, make a shell pink colour of dye.

The flower opens with the morning sun (between 6 and 7 o'clock), and closes in the evening : I didn't know that :) It is sensitive to light and weather, and closes up when darkness or a storm approaches.

Each flower head produces up to 200 seeds; in total, one plant can have up
to 5,000 seeds. The seed head is a symbol of abundance, the seeds themselves messengers.

Some folklore: picking a dandelion under the light of a full moon, then blowing the seeds in the four directions while making a wish will ensure it comes true.

Sources:
Rodale's 21st Century Herbal [Balick]
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants [S.Gregg]
Harvesting The Northern Wild [M.Walker]
Herbs & Edible Flowers [Lois Hole]
Weeds Of Canada and the N. United States [Boyer; Dickinson]
Folk Wisdom For A Natural Home [B. Pagram]

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Taken in natural light ; Undedited; Uncropped, : Nature in all its natural splendour.

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♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image :

Macro Marvels
All About Nature
Just Dande
Wild Flowers
Fine Arts Professionals

Uploaded

October 28th, 2015

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