Taraxacum (Μαρί), 'Mariaki' (Μαριάκι), or 'Koproradiko' (Κοπροράδικο) are eaten by locals, either raw or boiled, in salads. "T. megalorhizon", a species endemic to Crete, is eaten in the same way; it is found only at high altitudes (1000 to 1600 m) and in fallow sites, and is called "pentaramia" (πενταράμια) or "agrioradiko" (αγριοράδικο). The flower petals, along with other ingredients, usually including citrus, are used to make dandelion wine. The ground, roasted roots can be used as a caffeine-free dandelion coffee. Dandelion was also traditionally used to make the traditional British soft drink dandelion and burdock, and is one of the
Taraxacum officinale be obtained from the flowers but little color can be obtained from the roots of the plant. "Taraxacum" is derived from the Arabic word ‘tarakhshagog’ (or 'tarakhshaqūn') for a bitter herb. It may be related to the Greek word ταρασσω (tarasso) meaning to disturb. "Officinale" means 'of the apothecaries' or 'medicinal'. Taraxalisin is a serine proteinase found in the latex of dandelion roots. Rudenskaya et al. (1998) found that taraxalisin hydrolyzes a chromogenic peptide substrate Glp-Ala-Ala-Leu-pNA optimally at pH 8.0. Maximal activity of the proteinase in the roots is attained in April, at the beginning of plant development after the