Perennial ground and cut leaves that form a rosette. The flower stalk is hollow and bears a yellow head at the top, composed of a large number of tubular and ligulate flowers. It blooms from March to May.
Dandelion tea is recommended for diabetics. It helps with anemia, gout, rheumatism, irregular menstruation and gallstones. The root and stem contain a bitter substance (taraxacin) that has a diuretic effect, but if consumed in larger quantities and if it is an older plant, it can cause diarrhea and heart rhythm disturbances. The young leaves are completely harmless and can be used as a salad. To remove the bitterness, they need to be soaked in water overnight. Young and still hard buds can be pickled in vinegar and used as a spice, instead of dill.