Taraxacum interveniens

Taraxacum interveniens is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae belonging to the apomictic Taraxacum officinale aggregate (microspecies of the section Taraxacum). It forms a basal rosette of oblanceolate, deeply pinnatifid to runcinate leaves 5-25 cm long with backward-pointing lobes, arising from a stout, fleshy taproot that exudes white latex when cut. From the rosette emerge one to several hollow, leafless scapes 5-30 cm tall, each terminating in a solitary capitulum 2-4 cm across composed entirely of bright yellow ligulate florets backed by reflexed outer involucral bracts. After flowering the receptacle develops the familiar globose pappus head of plumed achenes wind-dispersed as a clock. It grows in lawns, meadows, roadsides and waste places, predominantly in temperate Europe and adjoining regions.