Rubber dandelion, Russian dandelion
Taraxacum koksaghyz

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It has a long taproot. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20 cm tall. It has 25-50 leaves arranged in one or more rings. The leaves are greyish-green and smaller than common dandelion. Flowers are on stalks about 25 cm long. A flower head can be 2.5 cm across.

There are 50-60 Taraxacum species. This species yields latex used as a source or rubber. Yields of 110 kg of rubber per hectare were obtained.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is best in loose well-drained soil. It grows in damp slightly salty soil. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bulgaria, Central Asia, China, Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, North America, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tasmania, USA, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Khokhu, Kokof

Synonyms

Taraxacum brevicorniculatum Korol.;