Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has successfully adapted to grow in suburban environments

Abstract

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg) is a perennial herbaceous plant that, although not native to its current habitat of Australia, North America and South America, has become invasive, posing economic challenges by outcompeting indigenous flora and agricultural crops. The precise factors enabling its dominance remain unclear. We hypothesized that morphological adaptations may play a role in contributing significantly to the dandelion's invasive success. This study focuses on two main drivers: 1. Phenotypic changes in the fruit head peduncle, and 2. Phenotypic plasticity facilitating adaptation to diverse environments. While dandelion fruits are efficiently dispersed by wind, the precise mechanisms are not fully understood. Our research revealed that during fruit head formation, the fruit head peduncle elongates and grows vertically, potentially aiding in fruit dispersal. Morphological variations across habitats, including natural environments, suburban lawns, and playgrounds, contribute to dandelion's success. In suburban lawns of Philadelphia, dandelions exhibit adaptations such as small leaves, short floral peduncle angled at 30 degrees or lower, growing parallel to the lawn grass to evade mowing, while in playgrounds, they develop shorter structures to withstand trampling pressure. Dandelions thriving in the undisturbed fringes of lawns and playgrounds have large floral peduncle and leaves revealing the true extent of their growth potential when allowed to flourish in their natural state. These findings highlight dandelion's adaptability and resilience, attributed to phenotypic plasticity, which enables them to thrive across diverse ecological landscapes.