Wicked or Wonderful?   by Elliott Killian

Dandilions - Taraxacum officinale

The common dandelion has a secret trick up its leaves to be a superweed. Most plants and animals require two parents, however dandelions can clone themselves. They can carry out a process called apomixis. When a dandelion overy isn't fertilized by pollen, instead of creating a seed that will not germinate the dandelion will create a clone of the mother plant inside the seed. This is one reason why dandelions are so effective as spreading to new areas, areas where there might not be pollen to fertilizer. 

While many humans curse the existence of dandelions, others have created uses for the plant. One person's superweed is another's dinner. The leaves of dandelions can be eaten raw or cooked. Many create salads out of them. Dandelions were not originally from North America, they were brought over from Europe as a food source. The dandelion root can be dried to turn into tea, some believe dandelion tea helps to support the liver. Before running out and picking a dandelion to eat, make sure the area you picked it from wasn't treated with herbicide and consult with a doctor before consuming any substance for health benefits. 

Another unusual use of dandelion is for airplane tires. Airplanes are a critical piece of equipment in military conflicts. One part that allows them to land is the tire. Tires are made out of rubber and rubber trees only grow in tropical regions. What would happen if a war disturbed the supply of rubber to make airplane tires? This was the question the United States and Soviet Union asked during the cold war. Both countries developed methods based on their local plants to create a rubber substitute for airplane tires. One of the United States solutions was based on dandelion sap. Why hasn't dandelion sap replaced rubber from rubber trees? While dandelion sap could be used to make tires the amount needed and the processing has kept rubber on the road. 

Maybe you could develop a dandelion use or a dandelion dish that changes the world. 

Check out Elliott's workspace on East High St by the courthouse at https://gavelquill.com