Teeth of the Lion: The Story of the Beloved & Despised Dandelion - Softcover

Though this alien species is the bane of manicured lawns, dandelion's lion-toothed tenaciousness has won the grudging respect of an upstate New York environmental educator and as she relates, others including Thoreau. Through a series of short essays, Sanchez traces the long culinary and medicinal use history of Taraxacum officinale, describes scientific studies as well as it's role in ritual and folklore, discusses how to "tame" it in an ecologically balanced garden, and offers recipes. B&w drawings are by Joan Jobson. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The Teeth of the Lion tells the story of the common dandelion, that remarkably widespread plant that is known, for better or worse, by just about everybody. Through a series of short essays, written in accessible language and a thoroughly engaging style, Anita Sanchez takes the reader on a journey through the natural history of the dandelion and its long association with humans. Joan Jobson's illustrations add important details and subtle accents that enhance this journey.Well adapted ecologically to spread into and thrive within disturbed sites — such as the lawns, playgrounds, roadsides, and parking lots in which they are most often encountered today, and viewed as weeds — dandelions also have had a lengthy, welcomed association with humans as medicine, food, and objects of ritual, magic, and folklore.The Teeth of the Lion will be a source of enjoyable, fascinating, memorable information of interest to all users. It will provide naturalists, wildflower enthusiasts, gardeners, interpreters, teachers, landscapers, and homeowners a better understanding of one of the most common, well-known, and perhaps underappreciated plants to be found anywhere.