Author Topic: F*cking dandelions  (Read 236669 times)

Mark Davies

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #15 on: April 23, 2010, 12:07:26 PM »
I have a collection of Dandelions (the genus Taraxacum) including several French cultivars, a species from Bear Island, a white flowered Spitsbergen variant, a variegated dandelion, the pink flowered Taraxacum alboroseum, the red-leaved Taraxacum faroense and least but not least the Rubber Dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz), cultivated both in Russia and the US in a big way during the last world war (when tropical rubber supplies dried up). The recent increasing interest in homeland security has lead to a boom in Taraxacum (rubber) research. Incidentally, I accidentally found myself controlling homeland security in both the US, Russia and Japan as in 2007 I was apparently the sole global supplier of Rubber Dandelion seed (which I collected in my garden to hopefully trade my way to new and wonderful species). I sold seed that year for EUR 1,000!! (true), but the market has sadly since dried up, so I couldn't retire as the world's first Rubber Dandelion baron. The rubber dandelion looks identical to the common garden variety to the untrained eye...

I am currently looking for the rare Gough Island Dandelion if anyone stumbles over one...

...and please mind your language when talking about my friends...

Absolutely surreal.

However, I do have some strange "Genesis Giant Hogweed" concerns about all this. Mad gardener breeds killer dandelion? Lightening, thunder, mad gardener says "Igor, the plant food" (banned or otherwise).

What a board  ;)

Rob W

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #16 on: April 23, 2010, 12:24:48 PM »

..I was going to say "middle leg joint", thank god I didn't..

When I was playing cricket for the fine town of Bury,  I used to take middle and leg.

And all this talk about piggin' flowers and piggin'' weeds. I'm into Japanese Knotweed meself.......................  :)   

Colin Salter

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #17 on: April 23, 2010, 12:43:23 PM »
Imust admit I have a grudging admiration for the humble dandelion. Its tenacity, its capacity for colonisation. Plus it was the only flower I could be sur eof growing on the former coal yard and pony paddock we laughingly called The Garden. But the thought of a dandelion on mephodrone ...

William Rait

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #18 on: April 23, 2010, 04:56:19 PM »
Meeow ::)

Nick Nation

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #19 on: April 23, 2010, 05:08:30 PM »
I have a collection of Dandelions (the genus Taraxacum)

Ahh Mr Saint, good to hear from you.

I seem to have more than my fair share of Lesser Celandine this year, probably because there's less dandelions. Miss Mountshaft actually breeds them, claiming they go well with grapes - although I could have got this bit wrong....

I accept Celandine is not the greatest horticultural challenge, I just wish there wasn't so much of it in the lawn areas. Any suggestions? 
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Dave Bardsley

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #20 on: April 24, 2010, 10:19:31 AM »
I accept Celandine is not the greatest horticultural challenge, I just wish there wasn't so much of it in the lawn areas. Any suggestions? 

Concrete?

Stephen Barstow

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #21 on: April 24, 2010, 03:01:26 PM »
I have a collection of Dandelions (the genus Taraxacum)

Ahh Mr Saint, good to hear from you.

I seem to have more than my fair share of Lesser Celandine this year, probably because there's less dandelions. Miss Mountshaft actually breeds them, claiming they go well with grapes - although I could have got this bit wrong....

I accept Celandine is not the greatest horticultural challenge, I just wish there wasn't so much of it in the lawn areas. Any suggestions? 

I had lesser celandine for dinner last night - one word of warning, though, it gets poisonous once it's flowering...


Stephen Barstow

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #22 on: April 24, 2010, 03:20:58 PM »
And all this talk about piggin' flowers and piggin'' weeds. I'm into Japanese Knotweed meself.......................  :)  

I'm very upset to hear that they are releasing a Japanese insect to control Knotweed. One of the biggest mistakes ever in my opinion. In a future when wild foraged food once again is important we will be regretting the introduction of an insect to control one of the best introductions to our flora - this is one of the most useful and productive wild foods and by no means as big a problem often repeated. Some pictures putting together a knotweed crumble a couple of years ago:  

Nick Nation

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #23 on: April 24, 2010, 04:32:38 PM »
In a future when wild foraged food once again is important we will be regretting the introduction of an insect to control one of the best introductions to our flora....

Yes, wise words. We must be prepared. Self-sufficiency will be the name of the game. I've been clearing out an area at the back which I intend to dedicate as an area for food production. I'm going to start by trying to grow my own Pepperoni Pizzas. Later on, an entire bush of Lamb Kebabs is a possibility.   
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Pete T

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #24 on: April 24, 2010, 05:27:28 PM »
Wiki says "The young stems are edible as a spring vegetable, with a flavor similar to mild rhubarb. In some locations, semi-cultivating Japanese knotweed for food has been used as a means of controlling knotweed populations that invade sensitive wetland areas and drive out the native vegetation.[9] Some caution should be exercised when consuming this plant because it contains oxalic acid, which may aggravate conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity.[10]
Both Japanese knotweed and giant knotweed are important concentrated sources of resveratrol, replacing grape byproducts. Many large supplement sources of resveratrol now use Japanese knotweed and use its scientific name in the supplement labels. The plant is useful because of its year-round growth and robustness in different climates.
Japanese knotweed is a concentrated source of emodin, used as a nutritional supplement to regulate bowel motility. The roots of Japanese knotweed are used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicines as a natural laxative. The active principle responsible for the laxative effect is emodin, present in its natural form as a complex of its analogs. Emodin has a mild laxative effect in doses of 20 to 50 mg per day."

I thought it was carcenogenic, think I'm getting mixed up with Ragwort..
Personally, I think it ought to be eradicated, having seen its effects on my brothers garden, and the pavement outside. 3 or 4 inches of tarcam is no problem.. Just not too happy about the method.
The best "free" food has to be nettles, great spinach substitue, and makes fantastic wine (liquid, not sound!). This could start a whole new topic of what we eat..
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Nick Nation

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #25 on: April 24, 2010, 05:39:55 PM »
This could start a whole new topic of what we eat.

No, not really.

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Pete T

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #26 on: April 24, 2010, 06:24:35 PM »
The active principle responsible for the laxative effect is emodin

..so where did the name Imodium come from, the cure for diorea, dihaorrea, diaorrea, the shits.

No, not really.



Spoilsport..

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Nick Nation

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #27 on: April 24, 2010, 07:16:21 PM »
..so where did the name Imodium come from, the cure for diorea, dihaorrea, diaorrea, the shits.

It's derived from Commodus, the Emperor of Rome (180-192) who ruled in a cruel and violent manner. He was murdered in a conspiracy led by his mistress. Why?
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Pete T

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #28 on: April 24, 2010, 07:20:58 PM »
Just thought it strange that the active in Jap Knotweed is Emodin, used as a laxative, where Imodium has the opposite effect..

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Nick Nation

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Re: F*cking dandelions
« Reply #29 on: April 24, 2010, 07:33:58 PM »
Just thought it strange that the active in Jap Knotweed is Emodin, used as a laxative, where Imodium has the opposite effect..

Yes. That's why Imodium is not called Emodin.
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