No, all of the dandelion can be ingested, so go for it!
Blessings
Linda

You just have to be careful where you pick or dig 'em.

I made wine once from plants that had been treated with something that made me sick

But if they are truly wild - or you in your yard where you know what's what you can eat the whole thing. The roots make a nice chicory brew when lightly roasted.

Here's some things I've collected about Dandelions over the years:

DANDELION: (Blowball, Lion's Tooth, Milk Witch) Taraxacum officinale, "Denta Leonis" (Lion's Teeth) after the leaf-shape, from this derived the French

Useful, humble, Arabs promoted its use during the 11th Century, still retained in the national pharmacopoeias of Hungary, Poland, Soviet Union, and Switzerland.

Very popular with Italians.

The Russian Dandilion (T. Kok-saghyz Rodin.) was extensively cultivated during WWII as a source of rubber, which was extracted from the latex of the roots. Small quantities of a similar latex are found in T. officinale.

Native to Europe and Asia; introduced elsewhere. On nitrogen-rich soils in any situation to 2.000 m. altitude.

Wild! Propogated from seed sown in Spring for use as an autumn salad herb. Blanch by earthing up or place an inverted flower pot over the plant. Grow as an annual to prevent bitterness developing in the plant.

Citric acid, riboflaven, Vitamins B & C, Provitamin A.

Pick dandelion greens in early spring. They can be plucked until the flower stalks appear. Pick while young and tender. Clean, pour boiling water over till fork-tender.

High source of Vitamin A, calcium and potassium.

Roots: Dig with a sturdy trowel. For crown: cut the cluster of leaf crowns from the top of the root, replace the soil.

To extend the harvesting season: cover mature plants with lawn clippings, newspapers, or any material that keeps out sun. In a week or so the leaves will be blanched yellow-white, tender and tasty as young leaves!

DANDELION ROOT TEA:
5-6 roots
Scrub roots clean with vegetable brush, scrape off as much skin as possible. Place roots on a cookie sheet in 300 degree oven for 4 hours. When dry, roots should be dark brown in the center when you snap them in two. Grind the roots as finely as possible in a blender or coffee grinder. Mix 1 teas. ground dandelion root with a cup of hot water for each serving. Let it steep for 3 min, then strain off dandelion particles (drip coffee?) Add milk and sugar or honey if you like. (related to chicory/endive)

DANDELION CROWN OMELET:
Wash crowns thoroughly and let drain. Saute in butter or oil and keep warm while you beat eggs. Combine and fry.

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Dictionary of Herbs and Herbalism, pg 142

Taraxacum officinale Weber COMPOSITAE

"The Little Priest" Priest (OE preost, modif. of LL presbyter--"elder"/ Prestor: ??? Poor, humble??

Generally considered a ubiquitous weed, it is in fact one of the most useful of Europeon herbs.

(Nature spirituality, "Western Metaphysics," Native American, Celt/Wic, Tribal) MidEast: Desert, Mid-West: Polynesian.

ALL parts of the plant can be employed. Extremely effective medicinal plant, being possibly the safest and most active plant diuretic and one of the best herbs known to treat liver complaints.

Leaves, roots, long eaten as salad. Last century: cultivated forms with large leaves have been developed as autumn and spring veggie. (blanched like Endive)

Roots: best known coffee substitute. All parts have been employed in fermented and unfermented beers, wines, and tonic drinks.

USES: excellent bitter tonic in atonic dyspepsia, a mild laxative in chronic constipation, very effective diuretic, cholagogue and choleretic in liver disease (esp. jaundice and primary stages of cirrhosis). Laxative, stomachic, of benefit as an anti-rheumatic. As a bitter, it promotes appetite and improves digestion. Flowers can be used in dandelion wine. Leaves in beer and tonic drinks. Safe to use in large amounts.

2 kinds: Common dandelion, Red-seeded dandelion

Children love the dandelion, picking the blooms for their mothers and blowing the seeds for fun! Seeds float.... "Santa Claus"--catch them and make a wish!