[Sca-cooks] Question about dandelions...

[otsisto]

Taraxacum officinale is native to Eurasia and was brought over to the
Americas somewheres around the 16th century as an herb. There are dandelions
indiginous to the Americas but I do not know them off hand.
Okay, looked it up and found one.
Taraxacum ceratophorum
http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/abstract/91/5/656

I think there is one that is found in California and is on the endangered
plant list.

The dandelion has been used as an herb in Europe and Asia for 100s of years.

De

-----Original Message-----
Greetings unto the List!
I'm passing on a question from a baronial member who knows I tend to hang
out in kitchens (whether literal or aetherial)....
Are dandelions native to the Western Hemisphere, or were they brought over
here by European settlers?  And if so, when? I have no idea (botany not
being something I know overly much about), so I said I'd tap into the
marvelous wealth of knowledge found on the Cooks' List for her....
Thanks,
Maire