THEthe moment in which we can see some ‘teeth’ begins, depending on the vintage and on the exposure, as early as the middle or end of February, but it is March when the two flowers we are about to meet meet talk: March is the month of the teeth.
Teeth?! No, don’t worry, we are not referring to a scheduled or recurring visit to our dentist friend, but to two plants that can be found blooming this month and both are commonly called… teeth!
Dog teeth ‘Pagoda’
Dog teeth in the garden
Which ones are they? We are talking about the dog tooth, Erythronium dens-canis L., of the Liliaceae family and the well-known dandelion or dandelion, Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum FH Wigg., Which belongs to another family, that of the Asteraceae, such as the stutter (do you remember it? It is that beautiful shade plant with the large heart-shaped leaves), the calendula and the sunflower.
Why are they called “teeth”?
The first, Erythronium dens-canisdue to the shape of the oblong bulb, similar to a dog’s tooth and covered with a whitish veil, and the second due to the leaves, whose serrated margins are reminiscent of teeth.
Erythronium dens-canis. Photo: Luca Leporati
If the dog tooth is at its best these days, constellating our undergrowth with its purplish red, pink or white flowering, the dandelion will soon do the same in the meadows even if, in particular positions, it has already bloomed in mid-February when the dog’s tooth was still not visible; however, we could have noticed his presence of Erythronium if we had looked for some purple leaves spotted with glaucous green and lanceolate-oval shape.
The dandelion
Dandelion or dandelion, Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum. Photo: Luca Leporati
Both are herbaceous perennials ideal for a country garden. Let’s not remove the dandelion from our lawnsnot only the bees but also our tortoises, greedy for this ideal food for them, will thank us, but also the children, who will be able to enjoy the dandelions while having fun flying them.
What about the dog’s tooth? We recommend not to collect it in nature but to photograph it only. Let’s remember to buy the bulbs and plant them in autumn! It also exists with yellow flowers, larger than the spontaneous ones and with wider leaves which rather than being spotted are more or less intensely marbled. What’s your name? ‘Pagoda’.
Where to plant your “teeth”
Where to plant it? If the dandelion looks great in the lawn, the dog tooth is an excellent companion for the European asaro. the other heart-leafed shade species we told you about not long ago, but also ferns, brunnera, periwinkles … and all the species that are good (not from an aesthetic point of view – yes, also – but of needs!) with the asaro.
Where to buy the “teeth”
The bulbs of Erythronium you can find them from:
Floriana Bulbose
via Silio Italico, 20
00078 Monte Porzio Catone (Rm)
tel. 06.9447769 – cell 366.8707078
[email protected]
www.florianabulbose.com
reference: Christian Shejbal
Raziel sas
via Sant’Antonio, 14
35018 San Martino di Lupari (Pd)
tel. 049.0990016 – cell. 393.9887003
[email protected]
www.raziel.it
reference: Pedro Minto
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