Dandelions are hardy perennials that contain a milky juice and are identifiable by their basal rosettes with often downy leaves. Dandelion is a stemless plant with a simple tap-root and deeply serrated leaves, blooming single bright yellow flowers terminally that appear at almost any time of the year but mainly during April to November.
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Traditionally in medicine, the dandelion root was prescribed in medicine to treat rheumatism, gout, and jaundice. The juice of the plant was used topically as a wash for scurvy, eczema or sores, while it was taken internally to treat indigestion and upset stomachs. Modern data supporting claims for dandelion as a diuretic, analgesic, hypoglycemic, or antitumor agent remains limited to animal research.
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Information courtesy of Georgetown University Medical Center
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