Adaptations to frequently disturbed environments - Kriton K. Hatzios
A magnificent example of adaptation to weedy life in a perennial grassland is provided by the common dandelion, Taraxacum officinale. In addition to its deep taproot and rosette of leaves, which help it to deal with competition of the grasses, it has remarkable powers of regeneration from any part of the rootstock which may be severed. The flat rosette of leaves avoids the blade of a mowing machine and it is not easy for a grazing animal to consume them, while the more exposed flowering scape is richly provided with unpalatable latex. The inflorescence buds are produced very near the ground level and develop rather slowly in this position (from which they will not be cut even by a very fine-set lawn mower). Suddenly the scape elongates and flowering and fruit-setting takes place rapidly (assisted by precocious development of the apomictically-produced embryos). All of these features are characteristic of the genus Taraxacum as a whole and must be looked upon as preadaptations to weediness.