Any of the weedy perennial herbaceous plants that make up the genus Taraxacum , in the composite family , native to Eurasia but widespread in much of temperate North America.
The most familiar species, T. officinale , has a rosette of leaves at the base of the plant; a deep taproot; a smooth, hollow stem; and a solitary yellow flower head composed only of ray flowers (no disk flowers). The fruit is a ball-shaped cluster of many small, tufted, one-seeded fruits. The young leaves are edible; the roots can be used as a coffee substitute.