This is NOT a Dandelion. | Deep Look

Not every yellow bloom ― or fluffy white globe ― taking over your backyard is a dandelion. Some of them are close relatives called catsears. But both of them have a little secret. To tell them apart and discover why they’re so successful you need to peek under their petals.

DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
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Gardeners cursing as they yank out yellow blooms from the ground might be misplacing their anger. Not everything that looks like a dandelion is one.

Dandelions have many doppelgangers, among them the most successful plant you’ve never heard of: catsears.

Bees and butterflies love the nectar and pollen provided by dandelions and catsears, and little songbirds like lesser goldfinches feed on their seeds. But it’s hard to convince some gardeners of their virtues.

“Most people who have a nice turf want only grasses,” said Joe DiTomaso, a weed researcher who retired from the University of California, Davis.

Whether you’re a friend or a foe, telling dandelions and catsears apart could be useful ― if only to know thine enemy ― and a fun way to ponder what makes these yellow blooms so successful.

--- How do you tell if it’s a dandelion?

Under a dandelion’s ― and a catsear’s ― petals you’ll see green structures that hold the bloom. They’re called phyllaries. In catsears, they all point up. In dandelions, some phyllaries curl down.

Dandelion and common catsear leaves have a similar shape, with toothed edges that give dandelions their name ― an adaptation from the French dent-de-lion, or lion’s tooth. The leaves of the common catsear are more lobed than pointy and they’re furry, while dandelions’ are smooth. Both leaves are edible, prepared in salads or sautéed.

One other way to tell them apart is that each stem of catsears branches into multiple blooms, while dandelions have only one bloom per stem.

-- What other plants look like dandelions?

A plant by the scientific name of Leontodon resembles dandelions so much that it is known as false dandelion. It is also known as lesser hawkbit, said DiTomaso.

“Where it’s confusing is its leaves look fairly similar and it has one flower per stem like dandelion, so a lot of people think it’s dandelion,” he said.

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🏆Congratulations🏆 to the following fans on our Deep Look Community Tab for being the first five to correctly explain which flower was a dandelion and which was a catsear!

TorterraGrey8
Original Name
Ary Mailhos

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[Honsejpeg]

I feel so betrayed.
The "dandelions" in my backyard are all catsears.
I will have no more of these dande-lies

[BiggBoner]

“Both are edible”

Ferb, I know what we’re going to do today.

[chubbydogmeat]

Anybody else think Deep Look is underrated? Like they deserve more subscribers, all the effort and detail in their videos need more appreciation ykyk

[msfwen]

Laura: It's not a dandelion...

Yeah, it's *dandeLYING*

[bennal]

I thought that this was gonna turn out to be a video about a horrific insect that makes itself look like flowers.

[ayumi]

“Dandelions like their space”


Well, at least they’re social distancing

[jaymeselliot]

"I need you to use dandelion in a sentence."
"okay--
the cheetah ran faster dandelion"

[joeblack]

Little known thing about the dandelion is that it's a pioneer plant species. And as is the case with all pioneer plants they are most successful when the conditions for more permanent growth is not ideal. They lock nutrients into the ground. So they are very good plants to have from a long term perspective. Once ground nutrients and PH is normalised other plants easily out-compete them.
A mowed lawn is akin to a grazed meadow. However of course dandelions are the first thing to be grazed. So basically with a lawn your best bet is to mow regularly enough so that flowers and seeds can never form. However it is worth noting that dandelions are very good for your lawn too if you can live with them. They will only take over if your soil is really poor.
In most cases you can sample your soil to determine deficiencies that you can nudge into a better range through fertilisers. Your other plants then have a chance to out-compete them.
But dandelions are good for soil. No mess. No fertiliser runoff. No fuss. And I find them to be a particularly fetching plant as well.

[johngabriellemacadini]

You should make a documentary about Dracula ants... They are very interesting

[YoshiBowserFanatic]

Never got to see these flowers in their "fluffy" forms in person, but thank goodness I get to have a deep look on one of them, and even learn! Nature is beautiful and amazing! Thank you Deep Look Team! 😃🌼

[funny-video-YouTube-channel]

*Dandelion root tea* is good for health.

[MermaidMakes]

As a hobbyist wild forager, my favorite sentiment is:
"If you look closely enough, there are no look-a-likes"

[jamesstyles]

Fun fact: The word "dandelion" comes from a French word "dent de lion" meaning lion's tooth, because of the shape of the leaves. Also, your videos are awesome. Keep up the good work!

[DrRain-u-]

We used to call the seeds “anjinhos”, little angels. If one flew into you it was saying hi and you had to make a wish!

[eddvcr]

The more you know about dandelions and catsears, the less you’ll be inclined to destroy them; they’re truly wonderful!

[edvardmunchonthebox]

When I was younger and blew my wishes on dandelions and they didn’t come true I rationalized that it’s because you’d have to wait for all the seeds to grow into their own flowers first lol

[radaradaaa]

Humans: stupid cats ears
Every other living thing on the planet: yum yum I like this plant

[NewMessage]

I successfully fought the urge to blow at the screen. * pats self on the back *

[TheOtherNeutrino]

>dandelions clone themselves
Me seeing a dandelion: Your clones are impressive. You must be very proud.

[RexRagerunner]

Deep Look: Do you like bees?
Me: *Remembers my comment from the "Honey Bees Make Honey... and Bread?" video*
Me: *Nods in fear*