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The Teeth of the Lion: The Story of the Beloved and Despised Dandelion
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.
144 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published October 15, 2006
4 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 22, 2014
My mother gave me this book to read. I loved it. I wish, wish, wish I had read it when she was still alive. Reading it now has made me feel close to her in a way that's both comforting and yet makes me very sad.
The book was beautifully structured and beautifully written: Anita Sanchez talks about the dandelion's arrival in the New World and its transition from a valued medicinal plant and foodstuff to a weed. She also covers about the dandelion's actual biology--how it grows, how it disperses seeds, the things that make it unique. She has a chapter about Culpepper, who wrote The English Physician in the 1650s, a work that championed folk wisdom and cures in a time when "learned physicians... jealously guarded their knowledge, shrouding medicine in a veil of Latin and Greek incomprehensible to the layperson." Culpepper valued the dandelion. And Sanchez concludes by talking about the problem of the dandelion as a nonnative, imported plant (and concludes that although it's an import, it's not an invasive--it doesn't displace native plants) and urges people to hold off on poisoning it, as the pesticides that people use are so harmful for the environment (and she offers nontoxic methods of getting rid of dandelions if you absolutely can't tolerate them). And she has recipes to try.
I was predisposed to like dandelions anyway, but Sanchez's The Teeth of the Lion has made me a stalwart dandelion apostle. I recommend this book for anyone who likes Michael Pollan's work or who likes thoughtful essays on topics of natural history and the environment.
The book was beautifully structured and beautifully written: Anita Sanchez talks about the dandelion's arrival in the New World and its transition from a valued medicinal plant and foodstuff to a weed. She also covers about the dandelion's actual biology--how it grows, how it disperses seeds, the things that make it unique. She has a chapter about Culpepper, who wrote The English Physician in the 1650s, a work that championed folk wisdom and cures in a time when "learned physicians... jealously guarded their knowledge, shrouding medicine in a veil of Latin and Greek incomprehensible to the layperson." Culpepper valued the dandelion. And Sanchez concludes by talking about the problem of the dandelion as a nonnative, imported plant (and concludes that although it's an import, it's not an invasive--it doesn't displace native plants) and urges people to hold off on poisoning it, as the pesticides that people use are so harmful for the environment (and she offers nontoxic methods of getting rid of dandelions if you absolutely can't tolerate them). And she has recipes to try.
I was predisposed to like dandelions anyway, but Sanchez's The Teeth of the Lion has made me a stalwart dandelion apostle. I recommend this book for anyone who likes Michael Pollan's work or who likes thoughtful essays on topics of natural history and the environment.
January 11, 2024
What a wonderful little book! Short, easy to read, entertaining chapters follow the history of the dandelion from its origins in Greece to its proliferation to most everywhere on earth. The book would be of interest to just about anyone who has ever picked a dandelion as a kid ( and sent their puff ball seeds aloft with a breath,) tried to rid their lawn of their bright yellow flowers, enjoyed dandelion wine or marveled at the dandelion’s ability to grow in the most inhospitable conditions.
The author is clearly a fan of the plant but, in the last chapter, suggests the best, environmentally friendly ways to control them in your lawn. As for me, I’m a fan of their springtime appearance in my yard and will enjoy them even more now that I’ve learned their history.
The author is clearly a fan of the plant but, in the last chapter, suggests the best, environmentally friendly ways to control them in your lawn. As for me, I’m a fan of their springtime appearance in my yard and will enjoy them even more now that I’ve learned their history.
May 21, 2024
I love dandelions so when I stumbled upon this little book I decided to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised by how readable and fascinating it was. It covers the history of dandelions in America, and looks at them from biological, historical, medicinal, and folkloric perspectives.
March 30, 2020
Cute and informative book about the history and botany of dandelions, beloved of children and bane of homeowners.
January 8, 2021
One of my favorite books ever. Something different in every chapter. Nice short chapters. Just beautiful. Something to talk about.
September 5, 2009
A quick and fun read about our long-standing love/hate relationship with the common dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, and its close relatives. You'll be amazed to learn about the prominence this humble plant has had in our history as food, medicine and even garden ornament. Each chapter is semi-independent and very brief—ideal for those hectic times when one's reading time is pared down to a few minutes before bed.
My single criticism is that while Ms. Sanchez speaks long and glowingly about the dandelion's medicinal value—among many other things, the plant is a powerful diuretic, and is also alleged to improve liver function and even to fight cancer—she makes no mention of what the dandelion contains that may confer these almost magical properties. Overall scientifically sound, in the section on pharmacopoeia, the book regrettably takes a turn into a kind of feel-good, naturopathic medicine.
If you take anything away from The Teeth of the Lion, let it be this jewel of ecological wisdom: a lawn is not a stable natural setting. Nature views a lawn as a scar upon the earth: continuously disturbed by its human tenders, far out of equilibrium with the natural succession of species, and thus ripe for colonization by fast-growing, tough "pioneer" plants—like the dandelion.
My single criticism is that while Ms. Sanchez speaks long and glowingly about the dandelion's medicinal value—among many other things, the plant is a powerful diuretic, and is also alleged to improve liver function and even to fight cancer—she makes no mention of what the dandelion contains that may confer these almost magical properties. Overall scientifically sound, in the section on pharmacopoeia, the book regrettably takes a turn into a kind of feel-good, naturopathic medicine.
If you take anything away from The Teeth of the Lion, let it be this jewel of ecological wisdom: a lawn is not a stable natural setting. Nature views a lawn as a scar upon the earth: continuously disturbed by its human tenders, far out of equilibrium with the natural succession of species, and thus ripe for colonization by fast-growing, tough "pioneer" plants—like the dandelion.
March 29, 2010
A lovely little book, written by a friend of a friend of mine. I don't know that I'll be pulling many more dandelions, but I may be picking them to add to my salad!
November 2, 2024
I was delighted to find a book about my favorite flower. I have always loved dandelions. And I liked most of this book. However, it was a bit of a disappointment that it was primarily about dandelions in the US. I live in Europe, where dandelions originated. Also, the last two chapters didn't seem to fit in with the rest. Suddenly it was all about lawns and I was expected to still want a dandelion-free lawn. Would someone with a wish to eliminate dandelions from their lawn read a book about them? I doubt it. To convert dandelion haters, it would have to be a different book. This is a book for dandelions lovers.
October 20, 2024
This was a fantastic read! Great storytelling with weird and cool facts all about dandelions and their history. You can tell the author is a professional educator used to turning complicated ideas into relatable every dsy examples. If you're at all interested in plants, plamt history, or ecology, this is a delightful read.
April 22, 2020
I love finding books like this that take a seemingly very simple thing, and take a deep dive into how intricate and complex it actually is. I highly recommend this book for anyone with interest in natural science and biology.
June 15, 2022
It's hard to express some negativity toward this book as it is written so amiably; however, it could use more visuals--the best image is on the cover and was borrowed from Kohler. There are no images and no descriptions depicting the major varieties; she merely mentions these.
June 20, 2017
This was fascinating!
September 1, 2017
Fascinating; I'll never look at "yellow flowered earth nails" the same way again :)
December 19, 2018
An interpretive naturalist's primer in the world of this unappreciated flower ❤️❤️❤️ informative, entertaining, and enlightening!
July 20, 2020
A very interesting look at the biology and natural history of the dandelion. It's written in a very user friendly way and is an enjoyable read for nearly anyone!
July 7, 2021
I loved it. What a charming book!
June 14, 2022
Great little ethnobotanical read. Now I love dandelions even more!
August 18, 2022
pretty light overview of the cultural history of dandelions (mostly from American/European history) it was a delightful skim!
August 1, 2023
Absolutely incredible book! I loved everything about it.
September 27, 2024
Educational and practical
November 13, 2013
I apparently make unreasonable demands in my nonfiction reading. Too academic in tone, and I'll put you down early for being too dry. Too folksy, and I'll doubt you're credibility. This one fell into the too folksy end of the spectrum, but, also, it seems to have been typeset in Papyrus, which really didn't do much to boost my confidence.
That's unfairly negative, because I really did have a fun time reading this one. I found myself rattling off a bunch of dandelion facts to friends after finishing it. Did you know that dandelions bloom in both early spring *and* early fall? I'd always thought of them as a spring thing, but, nope, that explains the scattered dandelion blooms my daughter is bringing me right about now. Did you know they were intentionally brought to North America by European settlers, who valued them for their medicinal and nutritional value? Did you know that dandelions actually prefer disturbed environments, and they tended to bloom in the ruts left behind by wagon trails, making a golden road to the west?
Well, there. Now you do. Thanks, Dandelion Book!
That's unfairly negative, because I really did have a fun time reading this one. I found myself rattling off a bunch of dandelion facts to friends after finishing it. Did you know that dandelions bloom in both early spring *and* early fall? I'd always thought of them as a spring thing, but, nope, that explains the scattered dandelion blooms my daughter is bringing me right about now. Did you know they were intentionally brought to North America by European settlers, who valued them for their medicinal and nutritional value? Did you know that dandelions actually prefer disturbed environments, and they tended to bloom in the ruts left behind by wagon trails, making a golden road to the west?
Well, there. Now you do. Thanks, Dandelion Book!
June 1, 2009
This book was pleasantly meandering. Short tales about things that ended in apocolyptic dandelion filled statements. Like "pesticides, pesticides, Rachel Carson, pesticides, How will I know what lawn is safe for my kids to play on?" Oh! The one with the little yellow flower!
I learned a new word: apomixis. The dandelion can reproduce without any help. Puts out it own seeds without pollination. Brutal.
Soon I will buy this book. Soon I will be a dandelion expert.
I learned a new word: apomixis. The dandelion can reproduce without any help. Puts out it own seeds without pollination. Brutal.
Soon I will buy this book. Soon I will be a dandelion expert.
August 17, 2016
Delightful blend of history, botany, herbal medicine, and folklore of one of our most common lawn weeds. I liked how each chapter focused on a person or personal anecdote (a few of them historic, like Nicholas Culpepper, Rachel Carson, or Henry David Thoreau) and branched out from there, exploring an aspect of dandelion use.
October 17, 2013
Delightful! Very well-written. Informative, entertaining, relevant, unique. The book has persuaded me to allow more dandelions to grow in my yard, to taste the flower heads and leaves, and to welcome conversations with my neighbors about these ubiquitous ''teeth of the lion'' plants.
August 15, 2016
This was an interesting read, written like short stories but full of information and factual tidbits. I love the dandelions in our yard even more. I plan on encouraging my daughters to make more salads!
February 25, 2023
I appreciate all the research that clearly went into this book. It also has a lot of character for being about such a specific topic. I retained a lot of the information I read. This is the only book I could really find on the dandelion, and I thought it was very well done.
April 12, 2012
This book will change the way you look at the world, not just dandelions. A broad reach for such a little book.
June 28, 2013
I found this book entertaining and informative. I enjoyed the personal touches the author added at the beginning of each chapter. The history of the dandelion was most informative.
March 8, 2015
It's an informative book--I'll never think of dandelion as only a weed again.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews