Just starting out

[Jaeger]

I've always had an interest in wild edibles, but never really took the steps to learn how to identify and prepare the plants. Always was too busy with other things. However, this year, I plan on tackling it and learning as much as I can. I have a few books on the subject, including the Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants, which I've come to find very helpful.

I realize this is something to tread carefully on, which is why I plan on doing this very cautiously. I am going to start small with the safer plants and move from there. Any advice or tips anyone can provide would prove immensely helpful.

I've started by trying to make sure I can accurately identify dandelion from other plants (not too difficult of a task). But I have run into something I wish to inquire. In my search throughout my yard, I found what I believed to be both dandelions, but upon closer inspection, I am not so sure. The leaves are drastically different, but nothing else seems to be different. On one plant, the leaves are severely toothed. But on the other, not so much, as you can see from the image. Are these both dandelions, but at different ages? Or are they different species? Am I just overthinking this? I want to be sure, so I'd like anyone's input.

IMG_5102[1].jpg

[hunter63]

What does the flower look like?

[1stimestar]

Could one leaf be more mature then the other?

[Jaeger]

The flowers on these plants weren't in bloom, but I did get an image of them as they were. Here is also an image of the two plants side by side.

IMG_5104[1].jpgIMG_5103[1].jpg

That's what I suspect 1stimestar, but I'm not 100% sure.

[Rick]

There are actually several different genus of the common dandelion and a look alike called catsear. If the flowers on both plants stand on a single hairless stem then it's dandelion. You might just have two different genus. T. officinale and T. erythrospermum are both versions of dandelion and commonly found.

[Jaeger]

Yeah both plants have the flowers on a single hairless stem. I had thought that both were species of dandelion, but because one seemed to have entire leaves and the other lobed, I wanted to make sure. I'll continue researching and looking at the other dandelion plants I have around me to see just what kinds I have available to me. Thanks!