A couple of haiku in honour of the dandelion.
The Dandelion
Every part is edible
And good for the health
The Dandelion
The dandelion is the only flower
representing the three celestial bodies,
the sun, the moon, and the stars.
The yellow flower resembles the sun,
the puff ball resembles the moon,
and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.
The dandelion flower opens
to greet the morning and closes
in the evening to go to sleep.
Every part of the dandelion is useful:
root, leaves, flower.
It can be used for food, medicine,
and dye for coloring.
Up until the 1800s,
people would pull grass out of their lawns
to make room for dandelions and other useful “weeds” like chickweed, malva, and chamomile.
The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth,
referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves.
Dandelions have one of the longest
flowering seasons of any plant.
Dandelion seeds are often
transported away by a gust of wind
as they travel like tiny parachutes.
Seeds are often carried
as many as five miles from their origin!
Birds, insects, and butterflies
consume nectar or seeds of dandelion.
Honey from bees
pollinating dandelions
is quite delicious.
Dandelion flowers
do not need to be pollinated
to form seeds.
The root of the dandelion
can be used as a substitute for coffee.
The dandelion is used
in folk medicine to treat
infections and liver disorders.
Tea made of dandelion
acts as a diuretic.
If you know dandelions,
they’ll grow shorter stalks to spite you.
Dandelions are quite possibly
the most successful plants that exist.
They are masters of survival worldwide.
--Regis Auffray
The Dandelion
Designed by God
Providing Much to All
~~~
Gabby
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