Erect plant with small dandelion-like yellow flowers. Stems smooth. Basal leaves toothed or incised similar to dandelion leaves. Stem leaves similarly toothed or incised or sometimes untoothed, clasping the stem with projecting fingers at the base (see right below). Fruits are blowballs like dandelions. Blooms in summer.

Alien from Europe. Occasional in open, disturbed places. These photos were taken in the flood plain below the North Bridge.

True dandelions lack true stems and have single flowers on hollow flowerstalks. Field hawkweed and autumn dandelion have similar flowers and basal leaves but lack stem leaves. Coltsfoot has somewhat similar flowers, but blooms in early spring and has no leaves at flowering time.