Dandelion (Latin: Taraxum officinale, also known as milkweed, creamweed, Mayflower) is a weed that is familiar to everyone and found everywhere (especially if nothing else grows overnight on a perfect green lawn, it will even grow in a crack in the asphalt). First and foremost, it is a medicinal plant in the herb long its. The milk ducts contain a white sap that hardens in the air and leaves coloured stains on your hands. Dandelion seeds can travel a kilometre. It is one of the longest flowering plants, and the whole plant is edible, but with a rather unpleasant bitter taste. In the past, it was used to treat eye diseases , hence the genus name "taraxis" (eye inflammation) and "officinale" refers to its medicinal properties. For centuries, dandelion has been used to treat liver and gallbladder problems, digestive difficulties and fever. Young leaves were eaten as vegetables and roasted roots were used as a substitute for coffee. In herbal medicine , the roots (Radix taraxaci), herbs (Herba taraxaci), leaves (in salads) (Folium taraxaci) and flowers (syrup, honey) (Flos taraxaci)