Taraxacum laevigatum

Species category

Weed

Common name

rock dandelion

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

AcheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.

Shape

Oblanceolate

Size

  • Length 2.5–2.9 mm 
  • Width 0.6–0.9 mm 
  • Thickness 0.6–0.9 mm 

Color

Red to brown

Texture

ReticulatedReticulated:
Resembling a net or network, especially having veins, fibers, or lines crossing the surface.  
with large longitudinal ribs

Other structures

Barbs on the longitudinal ribs are increasingly larger from the base to the apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
.

Identification notes

ApexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
terminated by a long narrow awnAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).
.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Asteraceae

Valid name

Taraxacum laevigatum (Willd.) DC.

Synonyms

Leontodon erythrospermum (Andrz. ex Besser) Britton
Taraxacum erythrospermum Andrz. ex Besser
Taraxacum lacistophyllum (Dahlst.) Raunk.
Taraxacum scanicum Dahlst.

 Taraxacum erythrospermum.  Achenes with barbs on the longitudinal ribs that are increasingly larger from the base to the apex. 
Taraxacum erythrospermum. Achenes with barbs on the longitudinal ribs that are increasingly larger from the base to the apex.