✵This article documents the herb Dandelion—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor—as well as the botanical sources defined in classical herbal works: (1) Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., (2) Taraxacum sinicum Kitag., and other officially recognized Taraxacum species: (3) Taraxacum heterolepis Nakai et H. Koidz., (4) Taraxacum asiaticum Dahlst., (5) Taraxacum erythropodium Kitag., (6) Taraxacum leucanthum Ledeb., (7) Taraxacum platypecidum Diels., and (8) Taraxacum brassicaefolium Kitag. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these eight species; as well as the macroscopic features of the herb Dandelion, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Taraxaci (Dandelion)
Pinyin Name: Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ
English Name: Dandelion
Latin Name:Herba Taraxaci Properties and Flavor: Cold; bitter, sweet
Brief Introduction:Herba Taraxaci is the dried whole plant of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Taraxacum sinicum Kitag., or several other Taraxacum species, used for boils, sores, and other pyogenic infections. It is commonly known as Herba Taraxaci, Dandelion, or Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ.
Botanical Source:Herba Taraxaci (Dandelion) is the dried whole plant of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Taraxacum sinicum Kitag., or several other Taraxacum species. Classical herbal works define its botanical sources as: (1) Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., (2) Taraxacum borealisinense Kitam. (a synonym of Taraxacum sinicum Kitag.), or (3) several other species within the same genus. These are plants of the genus Taraxacum, family Asteraceae (Compositae, aster or daisy family), order Asterales. The following eight commonly used species are introduced:
(1) Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.
Botanical Description:Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. is the common dandelion, also known as Pu Gong Ying. It is a perennial herb growing up to 10–25 cm tall. The whole plant contains white latex and is covered with sparse, white, arachnoid hairs. The root is deep and long—simple or branched, conical, often curved—3–7 cm in length and typically 3–5 mm in diameter; the outer bark is yellowish-brown and wrinkled. Leaves are basal and arranged in a rosette; petiolate, with swollen, sheath-like bases on both sides of the petiole; leaf blades are linear-lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate, 6–15 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide; apex is acute or obtuse; base is attenuate and decurrent; margin is lobed or irregularly pinnatifid, with dentate or triangular lobes, entire or sparsely toothed, and serrulate between lobes; surface is green or with mauve (lilac) stripes, covered with white arachnoid hairs.
The scape emerges from the tangled foliage, longer than or slightly shorter than the leaf blade; its upper surface is densely covered with white arachnoid hairs. The capitulum (flower head) is solitary and terminal, composed entirely of ligulate, hermaphroditic flowers. The involucre is multilayered: outer bracts are ovate-lanceolate and shorter; inner bracts are linear-lanceolate; margins are membranous and bearing arachnoid hairs; both inner and outer bracts bear small corniform protrusions. The receptacle is flat. Corollas are yellow, apically truncate and often lobed. There are 5 stamens; anthers connate into a cylindrical tube surrounding the style externally; filaments free. There is 1 pistil; the ovary is inferior; the style is slender and elongated; the stigma is bifurcated and covered with short hairs.
Achenes are oblanceolate, 4–5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, with vertical ridges and transverse striations; the fruit bears spinous protrusions, and the apex terminates in a rostrum (beak) 8–10 mm long; the pappus is white and approximately 7 mm long. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting from June to July.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in grasslands on hillsides or mountain slopes, along roadsides, on sandy riverbanks, and in cultivated fields.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried whole herb forms a crinkled, curled, compact mass. The root is conical and tortuous, 3–7 cm long; the surface is brown and wrinkled; tan (chocolate-brown) or yellowish-white trichomes are present on the root head—some partially abraded. Basal leaves are mostly wrinkled and fragmented; intact leaves are oblanceolate, 6–15 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide, greenish-brown or dull gray (dark gray); apex is acute or blunt; margins are antitropously lobed or pinnatifid; lobes are dentate or triangular; base is attenuate, decurrent, and petiole-like; primary veins are conspicuous on the abaxial surface and covered with arachnoid hairs. One to several scapes arise per plant, each bearing a terminal capitulum (flower head). Involucral bracts are multilayered: outer bracts in several layers, with or without small corniform protrusions at the apex; inner bracts are 1.5–2 times longer than outer ones, with small corniform protrusions at the apex; corollas are tawny (yellowish-brown) or yellowish-white. Achenes are oblong-ovoid and bear a white pappus. The herb has a mild odor and tastes slightly bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Strong inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococci, and other bacteria; moderate inhibitory effects against Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp., Shigella spp., Salmonella typhi, and Klebsiella spp.; (2) Inhibition of gastric acid secretion; anti-ulcer and gastric mucosal protective effects; (3) Endotoxin antagonism.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and dissipating stasis, promoting diuresis and resolving damp-heat stagnation. It is indicated for furuncles, carbuncles, acute mastitis, lymphadenitis, scrofula, furunculosis, swellings and sores, acute conjunctivitis, red and swollen eyes, pharyngalgia (sore throat), cough, pulmonary abscess, periappendiceal abscess, mumps, damp-heat jaundice, painful dysuria (stranguria), chills and fever, sore throat with swelling, acute tonsillitis, acute bronchitis, stomach-fire syndromes, gastritis, hepatitis, enteritis, bacillary dysentery, cholecystitis, urinary tract infections, and snake or insect bites.
Administration of Herba Taraxaci (Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Herba Taraxaci (Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams. Externally: fresh herb, mashed and applied as a paste; or fumigation and wash the affected area with a water decoction. (2) Internally: water decoction, 0.3–1 qián (≈9–30 grams); higher doses may reach 2 liǎng (≈60 g); juice extraction or powder formulation. External use: mashed herb applied as a paste. (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–30 grams; higher doses may reach 60 g; juice extraction or powder formulation. External use: appropriate amount; mashed herb applied as a paste.
(2) Taraxacum sinicum Kitag.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Alkali-land Dandelion, Jiān Dì Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ (meaning "alkaline-land dandelion"), or Huā Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ; it is also synonymized as Taraxacum borealisinense Kitam.
A perennial herb. The root crown bears brown, persistent leaf bases. Leaf blades are obovate-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate—rarely linear-lanceolate—4–12 cm long and 6–20 mm wide; margins are pinnatifid or entire, corrugated; inner rosette leaves are antitropously pinnately divided, with larger apical lobes; lateral lobes are long-triangular or hastate-triangular (3–7 per side), narrowly lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, entire or serrulate, explanate or antitropous; both surfaces are glabrous; petioles and abaxial leaf veins are often purple.
One to several scapes, 5–20 cm tall—taller than the leaves—with arachnoid hairs or glabrate at the apex. The capitulum (flower head) is 20–25 mm in diameter. The involucre is small, 8–12 mm long, pea-green (pale green); involucral bracts are in three series: tips are mauve (lilac), neither thickened nor bearing corniform protrusions—though slight thickening may occasionally occur. Outer bracts are ovate-lanceolate, with narrow or broad white membranous margins; inner bracts are lanceolate and approximately twice as long as outer bracts. Ligulate flowers are yellow—rarely white—with purple stripes on the abaxial surface of marginal ligules; ligules are ≈8 mm long and 1–1.5 mm wide.
Achenes are oblanceolate, hazel (pale brown), ≈3–4 mm long; upper portion bearing spinous protrusions; lower portion with sparse, blunt tubercles; apex is tapering to a conical–cylindrical rostrum (beak) base ≈1 mm long; rostrum is 3–4.5 mm long; pappus is white, 5–6 mm long. Flowering and fruiting occur from June to August.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in slightly damp saline–alkaline fields or champaign (level, open) fields, and on gravelly sands, at altitudes of 300–2,900 m above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: Leaves are obovate-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, ≈4.8 cm long and 1.2–1.5 cm wide; typically regularly antitropously pinnately divided, with 3–7 pairs of lobes; apical lobes are long-hastate; apex is acute or obtuse; base is narrowly attenuate and elongated; surfaces is glabrate. Involucral bracts are in three series: outer two series rarely bear corniform protrusions at the apex; inner series are approximately twice as long as outer ones.
(3) Taraxacum heterolepis Nakai et H. Koidz.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Yī Bǎo Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ and is also cited as Taraxacum heterolepis Nakai et Koidz. ex Kitag. or Taraxacum multisectum Kitag. It has been included in successive editions of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (CP) since CP 1977 and recorded in the Chinese Traditional Medicine Records, 2nd Edition (1988).
A perennial herb. Leaves are oblanceolate to linear, 10–25 cm long and 5–30 mm wide; irregularly pinnatifid; apical lobes are triangular, apex is acuminata; lateral lobes are explanate or slightly antitropous, triangular to linear, apex is long-acuminate; margin is sparsely serrate or entire; minute lobules or fine serrations present between lobes; both surfaces are glabrous.
Scape(s) are 10–15 cm tall, sparsely covered with arachnoid, woolly hairs. Capitulum (flower head) is approximately 35 mm in diameter. Involucre is campanulate (bell-shaped), 13 mm long. Outer involucral bracts are lanceolate, reflexed and appressed; apex is acute; with narrow membranous margins; smooth or bearing extremely sparse marginal setae (trichomes); apex is dull red, thickened or bearing minute corniform protrusions. Inner involucral bracts are linear, base is slightly widened, 20 mm long and 2 mm wide; apex is dull red, moderately thickened. Ligulate flowers are yellow; marginal ligules are faintly colored on the abaxial surface.
Achenes are obconical, brown, 4.5 mm long, and 0.7 mm wide, with two deep grooves on both sides; the upper part bears spinous protrusions, the lower part is smooth, and the apex is attenuated into a conical to cylindrical rostrum (beak) base approximately 1 mm long; the rostrum (beak) is 10 mm long; pappus is white to hazel (pale brown), 5–7 mm long. Its flowering and fruiting periods extend from April to June.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows wild on hillsides or mountain slopes, roadsides, or along stream banks.
Taraxacum heterolepis has a thick root; its leaves are hypertrophic, and its biomass is larger. In early spring, it is one of the earliest plants to resume green, beginning in early April in north China. Its flowering period is very long, peaking in June–July and extending into September; fruiting occurs from July to September. Taraxacum heterolepis exhibits strong ecological adaptability and can grow in relatively humid environments and slightly saline soils. It typically grows in wet grasslands, along roadsides, or near forest edges.
Characteristics of the Herb: The petiole base is slightly prunus (purplish red) and covered with arachnoid hairs; leaves are oblanceolate, 12–15 cm long and 3–4 cm wide, with an acute apex, a narrowly attenuate base, and pinnately parted margins; lobes are broad or narrowly triangular, with acute apices, entire or bearing sparse serrations; both surfaces are covered with arachnoid hairs; old leaves become glabrescent. The involucral bracts are arranged in three layers: the outer layer bears small corniform protrusions; the inner layer is 1.5–2 times longer than the outer layer and bears slightly corniform protrusions.
(4) Taraxacum asiatica Dahlst.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Ya Zhou Pu Gong Ying or Asian Dandelion; it is also referred to as Taraxacum leucanthum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. or Taraxacum asiaticum Dahlst., Ji Ye Pu Gong Yin (meaning hastate-leaf dandelion), or Bai Hua Pu Gong Yin (meaning white-flowered dandelion).
A perennial herb. The pilorhiza (root cap) bears a darkish brown residual leaf base. Leaf blades are linear or narrow-lanceolate, 4–20 cm long and 3–9 mm wide, corrugated, pinnatilobate to pinnately parted; apical lobes are large, hastate or narrowly hastate; lateral lobules on both sides are narrowly pointed; lateral lobes are triangular-lanceolate to linear; serrations or intermediate lobules occur between lobes; leaves are glabrous or sparsely pilose.
Several scapes, 10–30 cm tall, are equal to or longer than the leaves; their apices are smooth or covered with arachnoid pilosity. The capitulum (flower head) is ca. 30–35 mm in diameter; the involucre is 10–12 mm long with an ovoid (egg-shaped) base. The outer involucral bracts are broadly ovate, ovoid (egg-shaped), or ovate-lanceolate, bearing a conspicuous broad membranous margin; their apices bear prunus (violet-red) protrusions or shorter, small corniform protrusions. The inner involucral bracts are linear or lanceolate, 2–2.5 times longer than the outer bracts, with purple, slightly blunt apical protrusions or inconspicuous corniform protrusions. Ligulate flowers are yellow, rarely white; marginal flowers bear dark purple stripes on the abaxial surface of the ligule; the stigma is primrose yellow (pale yellow) or dull green (dark green).
Achenes are obovate-lanceolate, wheat-straw yellow or brown, 3–4 mm long, bearing short acanthous nodules on the upper part; the lower part is glabrescent; the apex gradually narrows into a cylindrical rostrum (beak) base ca. 1 mm long; the rostrum (beak) is 5–9 mm long; pappus is dirty white, 5–7 mm long. Its flowering and fruiting periods extend from April to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in marshy grasslands, benchlands, or along river rapids and woodland edges.
Characteristics of the Herb: Leaves are strap-shaped or narrow-lanceolate, 2.5–9 cm long and 0.3–0.9 cm wide, pinnatilobate to pinnately parted; lobes are slightly antitropous, triangular-lanceolate to strap-shaped; apical lobes are larger, hastate or narrowly hastate; leaves are glabrous or sparsely pilose. The outer involucral bracts bear inconspicuous small corniform protrusions; inner bracts are 2–2.5 times longer than outer bracts and lack obvious corniform protrusions.
(5) Taraxacum erythropodium Kitag.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Hong Geng Pu Gong Ying (red-stalk dandelion) and Taraxacum erythropodium.
A perennial herb; the whole plant contains white latex. The taproot is long-cylindrical. The stem is inconspicuous; petioles are short and cardinal-red (bright red); basal leaves form a rosette and are spreading (explanate); leaf blades are long obovate-lanceolate or broadly oblanceolate, mostly irregularly pinnately parted into large or small lobes; the upper surface bears prunus (violet-red) stripes.
Scapes are unbranched; the apical capitulum (flower head) bears ligulate flowers and is yellow; the peduncle is fresh reddish-violet and covered with arachnoid hairs at the apex.
Achenes are narrowly obovate-lanceolate, ca. 4 mm long, bearing acanthous protrusions on the upper part; the apex tapers into a slender, elongated rostrum (beak) 8–10 mm long; the pappus is white and persistent. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting extends from June to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides and mountain slopes, along field roadsides, beside ditches, on forest edges on mountain slopes, or in saline habitats.
Growth Characteristics:Taraxacum erythropodium Kitag. is drought- and salt-tolerant and thrives in humid air and loose, fertile soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: Red Stalk Dandelion: Petioles are short and reddish-purple-brown; leaf blades are long oblanceolate or broadly oblanceolate, 8–12 cm long and 2.5–3 cm wide, with a blunt apex and narrowly attenuate base; margins are regularly pinnately parted; lobes are triangular, entire or sparsely serrate; red spots occur on the adaxial surface; both surfaces are covered with arachnoid hairs. Involucral bracts are arranged in three layers; the inner layer is 2.5 times longer than the outer layer; apices are prunus (violet-red) and bear small corniform protrusions.
(6) Taraxacum leucanthum Ledeb.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Bai Hua Pu Gong Ying (white-flowered dandelion); it is also referred to as Taraxacum leucanthum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. or Taraxacum pseudoalbidum Kitag.
A perennial dwarf herb. The pilorhiza (root cap) bears an abundant darkish-brown residual leaf base. Leaf blades are linear-lanceolate, subentire to shallowly lobed; rarely pinnatifid; minutely serrate; 3–5 cm or 2–8 cm long and 2–5 mm wide; both surfaces are glabrous.
One or several scapes, 2–6 cm tall, glabrous or sparsely arachnoid-pilose at the apex; capitulum (flower head) is ca. 25–30 mm in diameter; involucre is 9–13 mm long; involucral bracts turn pale greenish-black or greenish-black; apices bear small corniform protrusions or are thickened; outer involucral bracts are ovate-lanceolate, slightly wider than or approximately equal in length to inner bracts, and possess a broad membranous margin; ligulate flowers are usually white, rarely primrose-yellow (pale yellow); marginal flowers bear dark (dull-colored) stripes on the abaxial surface of the ligule; stigmas turn black upon drying.
Achenes are obovate-oblong, withered wheat-straw yellow to hazel (pale brown) or taupe (dust-colored), 4 mm long, bearing spinules on the upper quarter; the apex gradually narrows into a rostrum (beak) base ca. 0.5–1.2 mm long; the rostrum (beak) is thick and robust, 3–6 mm long; pappus is faintly pink (rosy) or rarely dirty white, 4–5 mm long. Flowering and fruiting occur from April to August.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in moist meadows on hillsides or mountain slopes, gullies and valleys, floodplain grasslands, and swamp meadows, at altitudes of 2,500–6,000 m above sea level.
(7) Taraxacum platypecidum Diels.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Mountain Dandelion or Bai Yuan Pu Gong Ying (white leaf-margin dandelion).
A perennial herb. The pilorhiza (root cap) bears a darkish-brown residual petiole base. Leaf blades are broadly oblanceolate or lanceolate-oblanceolate, 10–30 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, pinnately lobed with 5–8 lobes per side; lobes are triangular, entire to sparsely serrate; lateral lobes are larger and triangular; surfaces are sparsely arachnoid-pilose or glabrescent.
1 scape or several scapes, up to 45 cm high; the upper part is densely covered with white arachnoid, woolly hairs; the capitulum (flower head) is large, about 40–45 mm in diameter; the involucre is broadly campanulate (bell-shaped), 15–17 mm long; involucral bracts are arranged in 3–4 layers; the apices bear small corniform protrusions or are without them; the outer-layer involucral bracts are broadly ovate, with dark green, broad stripes along the center and a wide, white, membranous margin; their tips are pink and sparsely ciliate; the inner-layer involucral bracts are oblong-linear or linear-lanceolate, approximately twice as long as those of the outer layer; the ligulate flowers are yellow; the marginal flowers have prunus (violet-red) stripes on the abaxial surface of the ligule; the style and stigma are dark green and turn blackish upon drying.
Achenes are hazel (pale brown), about 4 mm long and 1–1.4 mm wide, bearing short, acanthous nodules on the upper part; the apex is abruptly constricted into a conical to cylindrical rostrum (beak) base about 1 mm long; the rostrum (beak) is slender, 8–12 mm long; the pappus is white, 7–10 mm long. Flowering and fruiting occur from March to June.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in grasslands on hillsides or mountain slopes, or along roadsides, at altitudes between 1,900 and 3,400 m above sea level; it has not yet been introduced into artificial cultivation.
(8) Taraxacum brassicaefolium Kitag.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Mustard-leaf Dandelion or Jie Ye Pu Gong Ying (meaning “mustard-leaf dandelion”).
A perennial herb. The leaf blade is broadly oblanceolate or broadly linear, resembling a mustard leaf, 10–35 cm long and 2.5–6 cm wide; it is pinnately parted or lyrate-pinnatifid; the base gradually narrows into a short petiole with wings; the lateral lobes are regular triangles or linear, often upward-pointing (up-dip) or rarely antitropous; their margins are entire or serrulate; sharp-pointed toothlets occur between the lobes; the apical lobe is a regular triangle, extremely broad, and entire.
Several scapes, up to 30–50 cm high, thick and stout, sparsely covered with arachnoid pilose hairs when young, becoming smooth with age, often puce (purple-brown); the capitulum (flower head) reaches up to 55 mm in diameter; the involucre is broadly campanulate (bell-shaped), 22 mm long, with a circular (rounded) or truncate-circular base; the apex bears short corniform protrusions; the outer-layer involucral bracts are narrowly ovate or linear-lanceolate; the inner-layer involucral bracts are linear-lanceolate, with purplish tips; the receptacle of the inflorescence bears small, oval, membranous receptacle bracts; the ligulate flowers are yellow; the marginal flowers have purple stripes on the abaxial surface of the ligule.
Achenes are obovate-oblong, pale olive-brown (pale greenish-brown), about 4 mm long, bearing acanthous protrusions on the upper part, short and blunt nodules on the middle part, and gradually becoming glabrous toward the lower part; the apex is slightly abruptly constricted into a cylindrical rostrum (beak) base about 0.5–0.7 mm long; the rostrum (beak) is 10–15 mm long; the pappus is white, 7–9 mm long. Flowering and fruiting occur from April to June.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows along riversides, forest edges, and roadsides.
✵This article documents the herb Dandelion—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor—as well as the botanical sources defined in classical herbal works: (1) Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., (2) Taraxacum sinicum Kitag., and other officially recognized Taraxacum species: (3) Taraxacum heterolepis Nakai et H. Koidz., (4) Taraxacum asiaticum Dahlst., (5) Taraxacum erythropodium Kitag., (6) Taraxacum leucanthum Ledeb., (7) Taraxacum platypecidum Diels., and (8) Taraxacum brassicaefolium Kitag. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these eight species; as well as the macroscopic features of the herb Dandelion, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ
Botanical Description: Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. is the common dandelion, also known as Pu Gong Ying. It is a perennial herb growing up to 10–25 cm tall. The whole plant contains white latex and is covered with sparse, white, arachnoid hairs. The root is deep and long—simple or branched, conical, often curved—3–7 cm in length and typically 3–5 mm in diameter; the outer bark is yellowish-brown and wrinkled. Leaves are basal and arranged in a rosette; petiolate, with swollen, sheath-like bases on both sides of the petiole; leaf blades are linear-lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate, 6–15 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide; apex is acute or obtuse; base is attenuate and decurrent; margin is lobed or irregularly pinnatifid, with dentate or triangular lobes, entire or sparsely toothed, and serrulate between lobes; surface is green or with mauve (lilac) stripes, covered with white arachnoid hairs.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried whole herb forms a crinkled, curled, compact mass. The root is conical and tortuous, 3–7 cm long; the surface is brown and wrinkled; tan (chocolate-brown) or yellowish-white trichomes are present on the root head—some partially abraded. Basal leaves are mostly wrinkled and fragmented; intact leaves are oblanceolate, 6–15 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide, greenish-brown or dull gray (dark gray); apex is acute or blunt; margins are antitropously lobed or pinnatifid; lobes are dentate or triangular; base is attenuate, decurrent, and petiole-like; primary veins are conspicuous on the abaxial surface and covered with arachnoid hairs. One to several scapes arise per plant, each bearing a terminal capitulum (flower head). Involucral bracts are multilayered: outer bracts in several layers, with or without small corniform protrusions at the apex; inner bracts are 1.5–2 times longer than outer ones, with small corniform protrusions at the apex; corollas are tawny (yellowish-brown) or yellowish-white. Achenes are oblong-ovoid and bear a white pappus. The herb has a mild odor and tastes slightly bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Strong inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococci, and other bacteria; moderate inhibitory effects against Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp., Shigella spp., Salmonella typhi, and Klebsiella spp.; (2) Inhibition of gastric acid secretion; anti-ulcer and gastric mucosal protective effects; (3) Endotoxin antagonism.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Alkali-land Dandelion, Jiān Dì Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ (meaning "alkaline-land dandelion"), or Huā Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ; it is also synonymized as Taraxacum borealisinense Kitam.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Yī Bǎo Pú Gōnɡ Yīnɡ and is also cited as Taraxacum heterolepis Nakai et Koidz. ex Kitag. or Taraxacum multisectum Kitag. It has been included in successive editions of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (CP) since CP 1977 and recorded in the Chinese Traditional Medicine Records, 2nd Edition (1988).
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Ya Zhou Pu Gong Ying or Asian Dandelion; it is also referred to as Taraxacum leucanthum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. or Taraxacum asiaticum Dahlst., Ji Ye Pu Gong Yin (meaning hastate-leaf dandelion), or Bai Hua Pu Gong Yin (meaning white-flowered dandelion).
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Hong Geng Pu Gong Ying (red-stalk dandelion) and Taraxacum erythropodium.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Bai Hua Pu Gong Ying (white-flowered dandelion); it is also referred to as Taraxacum leucanthum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. or Taraxacum pseudoalbidum Kitag.
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Mountain Dandelion or Bai Yuan Pu Gong Ying (white leaf-margin dandelion).
Botanical Description: This species is commonly known as Mustard-leaf Dandelion or Jie Ye Pu Gong Ying (meaning “mustard-leaf dandelion”).
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