Scorzoneroides autumnalis

Autumn Dandelion ( Leontodon autumnalis ), copper engraving by Jacob Sturm

The Autumn Dandelion ( Leontodon autumnalis ) is a flowering plant in the daisy family subfamily of Cichorioideae. It is widespread in Europe and western Asia.

Features

The Autumn dandelion grows as a perennial herbaceous plant. The stem is branched. The leaves are mostly bare. The Blütenstandsschäfte are up gradually thickened and scaly above downward. The bloom conditions stand erect before flowering. In contrast to ordinary dandelion inflorescence stem of the autumn dandelion is not hollow.

Blooms from July to September. Fruit ripening is from August to November.

Habitat

The Autumn dandelion preferably grows on rich, mostly calcium-poor meadows and pastures, park lawn, dry salt marshes and along roadsides.

Ecology

The Autumn Dandelion is a Hemikryptophyt and a half rosette plant.

The ray flowers are only in the upper part of a UV reflection, the cups are therefore dark for pollinating insects inside and appear bright on the edge of the corolla tube is short, so that various insects as pollinators come into question.

The fruits are achenes, which Pappusstrahlen spread apart when wet hygrochas. They spread as Schirmchenflieger and water Hafter. Arise per flower heads 165-233 fruits.

Swell

• Werner Roth painter ( Lim. ), Rudolf Schubert, Klaus Werner, Hermann Meusel (ed.): Exkursionsflora the territories of the GDR and the FRG. Volume 2: vascular plants. 10th edition. Volk und Wissen, Berlin 1981.