Taraxacum officinale

 American Indian Names

      The Omaha name for Dandelion is Waxtazi. No other Indian names could be found.

  

Description       Dandelion is a perinnial forb, introduced from Eurasia. It flowers form March through October. Reproduces by seeds. Grows 2-22 in. tall and has a deep-taproot. The plant has a short stem beneath a rosette of deeply-toothed leaves. The flower is bright Yellow and when mature turns into a downy ball of seeds. Each seed has it own parachute so it can be carried away by the wind. Dandelions have a milky sap.

Habitat and Location

,	Dandelions can be found throughout North America in meadows, roadsides, lawns, and waste places in all soil types. It is one of the most common and fimiliar weeds in North America. On the Omaha Indian Reservation, we found it in front of the school,by the Old Post Office, North of the school, etc.

Uses
      Dandelions had many uses, The Algonquin, Cherokee, and Iraquois use it to purify their blood by either eating the greens or drinking an infusion of the roots. The Cahuilla,  Cherokee, Kiowa and Iroquois use it has a food and also a beverage by gathering stems and leaves. The Bella Coola, Iroquois, and Papago use it has an asprin by decoction of the roots.
     Dandelions flowers are eaten by Wild Turkeys. Leaves are eaten by geese, rabits and small mammals. The young leaves have been boiled and eaten as spring grenns, roots, have been used to treat heartburn and as a mild laxative, and tea and wine have been made from the flowers. Flowers can be battered, fried, and eaten.


                                                                                                         By: Cheryl Dick
    

This Page was last update: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 11:52:15 AM
This page was originally posted: 10/31/06; 10:44:40 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

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