According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) contain plentiful amounts of Vitamins A, B, C and D, iron, potassium, and zinc. The entire plant has an active biochemistry that has made it a valuable medicinal for centuries, from flower, to leaf, to root. The root in particular is high in phenolic acids (which protect against oxidative damage) and inulin (a prebiotic that encourages beneficial bacteria to grow in the gut). 1
From deodorant and ketchup, to raising chickens and composting.