04/25/2024
The dandelion is the only flower that symbolizes the sun, moon, and stars. ☀️ 🌙 ⭐️ The yellow flower represents the sun, the puffball symbolizes the moon, and the dispersing seeds resemble stars. The dandelion opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to sleep.
Every part of the dandelion is useful: its root, leaves, and flower can be used for food, medicine, and dye for coloring.
Until the 1800s, people would remove grass from their lawns to make room for dandelions and other beneficial "weeds" like chickweed, malva, and chamomile. The name "dandelion" comes from the French word "dent de lion," meaning lion’s tooth, and they boast one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant. Seeds can travel up to 5 miles from their origin. Animals such as birds, insects, and butterflies consume the nectar or seeds of the dandelion. 🐝
Dandelion flowers do not require pollination to produce seeds. They were known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years. In folk medicine, dandelions are used to treat infections and liver disorders. Dandelion tea acts as a diuretic.
Dandelions are arguably the most successful plants in existence, masters of survival worldwide.
Every year, countries spend millions on lawn pesticides to maintain uniform lawns of non-native grasses, and 30% of the country’s water supply is used to keep them green.
📷 Kelsi Case
