The humble dandelion.

Dandelions are flowering herbs usually belonging to the genus Taraxacum. They are native to Eurasia and North America and are named for the shape of their leaves, which somewhat resemble lions’ teeth. They have yellow flowers, and are famous for their hairy flying seeds.

Commonly regarded as a weed to be removed from one’s garden or vegetable patch, the dandelion is in fact very useful. The leaves, roots, and flowers are edible, and the plant has been a part of many traditional recipies across its native range. In the Carpathian basin for example, the leaves were eaten fresh in spring and the flowers were eaten raw or used to make a kind of flower wine (Dénes, et al, 2012, p. 383). In Britain, dandelions are a part of the traditional drink ‘Dandelion and Burdock’, which has been drunk in one form or another for several hundred years, and the roots too can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute, which apparently tastes quite nice (Moodie, 1854, p. 90).

The first record of the plant being used as a medicine comes from the middle east around 1000 years ago, although it has been used as a medicine by other societies since then, including European, Chinese, and North American aboriginal traditional medicine (Clare, Conroy & Spelman, 2009; Schütz, Carl & Schieber, 2006). A study from 2009 found that after taking a dandelion-derived solution, there was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of urination in the participants (Clare, Conroy & Spelman, 2009), which helps to explain the French name for the plant (pissenlit). It has also been prescribed to treat liver and spleen ailments, hepatitis, anorexia, kidney disease, diabetes, and as a treatment for cancer, as well as used as an anti inflammatory (Sweeny, et al, 2005); the usefulness of the plant to treat these ailments has been described as unclear or conflicting, however (ibid, p. 81).

On top of its use as a food and medicine, the Soviets also had a special use for it.

During the WWII, owing to a shortage in the supply of rubber, the Soviet Union was tasked with creating its own supply. To this end, scientists conducted trials of over 1100 plants to test natural latex production, and they found that the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz) was most suitable for cultivation. After some selective breeding, the Soviets were able to get as much as 200 kg of natural rubber per hectare of dandelion (van Beilen & Poirier, 2007, p. 227) and at one point, domestically produced dandelion-derived rubber accounted for 30% of the USSR’s rubber consumption, though the project was eventually cancelled when Hevea brasiliensis-derived rubber became affordable again (ibid).

Interest in alternative sources of rubber has since renewed, and cultivation of T.koksaghyz has begun again in Germany for tyre production, with initial results being promising (McGovan, 2021).

You know me- I’m a tree man, myself. However, I was reading up about this the other day, and decided that you should all know about it.

The tree posting will resume in my next mega!

References

van Beilen, J.B & Poirier, Y. (2007) ‘Guayule and Russian Dandelion as Alternative Sources of Natural Rubber.’ Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 27(4), 217-231.

Clare, B.A; Conroy, R.S. & Spelman, K. (2009) ‘The Diuretic Effect in Human Subjects of an Extract of Taraxacum Offinale Folium Over a Single Day.’ Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 929-934.

Dénes, A; Papp, N; Babai, D; Czúcz, B. & Mólnár, Z. (2012) ‘Wild plants used for food by Hungarian ethnic groups living in the Carpathian Basin.’ Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 81(4), 381-396.

McGovan, J. (2021) ‘Could Rubber from Dandelions make Tires More Sustainable?’ DW, March 10th. https://tinyurl.com/2sdspsm7

Moodie, S. (1854) Roughing it in the Bush; Or, Life in Canada. New York: George P Putnam.

Schutz, K; Carle, R & Schieber, A. (2006) ‘Taraxacum – a Review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile.’ Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 117(3), 313-323.

Sweeney, B; Vora, M; Ulbricht, C. & Basch, E. (2005). ‘Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) by Natural Standard Research Collaboration.’ Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, 5(1), 79–93.

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