Common Dandelion Phenophase Definitions
Directions: As you report on phenophase status (Y, N or ?) on the datasheets, refer to the definitions on this sheet to find out what you should look for, for each phenophase in each species. To report the intensity of the phenophase, choose the best answer to the question below the phenophase, if one is included.
Leaves
Initial growth: New growth of the plant is visible, either from above-ground buds with green tips, or new green or white shoots breaking through the soil surface. Growth is considered “initial” on each bud or shoot until the first leaf has fully unfolded.
Leaves: One or more live fully unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. For seedlings, consider only true leaves and do not count the one or two small, round leaves (cotyledons) that are found on the stem almost immediately after the seedling emerges. Do not include dried or dead leaves.
Flowers
Flowers: One or more fresh flowers or flower heads (inflorescences) are visible on the plant. Flower heads include many small flowers that usually do not open all at once. Do not include wilted or dried flowers that remain on the plant, or heads whose flowers have all wilted or dried.
How many fresh flowers or flower heads are present?
Less than 3; 3 to 10; More than 10.
Open flowers: One or more open fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Flowers are considered “open” when the reproductive parts (male stamens or
female pistils) are visible between unfolded or open flower parts. Do not include wilted or dried flowers that remain on the plant.
How many fresh flowers are open?
Less than 3; 3 to 10; More than 10. Peak flower: The plant has a large number of flowers and one half (50%) or more are open and still fresh.
Fruits
Fruits: One or more fruits are visible on the plant. For Taraxacum officinale, the fruit is very tiny and seed-like and is crowded into a spent flower head. The seed-like fruit has a tuft of white fluff and changes from yellow-green to light brown, and drops or is blown from the plant after the spent flower head reopens. Do not include empty flower heads that have already dropped all of their fruits.
How many fruits are present?
Less than 3; 3 to 10; 11 to 100; 101 to 1,000; More than 1,000
Ripe fruits: One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For Taraxacum officinale, a fruit is considered ripe when it has turned light brown and readily drops or is blown from the reopened flower head when touched. Do not include empty flower heads that have already dropped all of their fruits.
What percentage of all fruits (unripe plus ripe) on the plant are ripe?
Less than 5%; 5-24%; 25-49%; 50-74%; 75-94%; 95% or more
Recent fruit drop: One or more fresh mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind.
How many mature fruits have dropped?
Less than 3; 3 to 10; More than 10.