Dandelions are in full swing where I live. They are in the Asteraceae  family, which is one of the largest plant families known, alongside the orchid family. Dandelions spread with their wind-carried seeds, and their yellow flowers close at night. They are all in the Taraxacum genus, and the weeds found globally are T. officinale and T. erythospermum. [x]

This is Brassica nigra, a member of the Brassicaceae family, the mustard family. Members of the Brassicaceae family have four petals, and it was once called the Cruciferae family, referring to the cross-shape of the flowers. [x]

Stachys byzantina, Lamb’s Ear, is originally from Turkey, Armenia and Iran, but has been introduced globally as an ornamental. It is in the Lamiaceae family, which also contains most of the herbs you are familiar with, such as rosemary, basil and mint. It is commonly known as the mint family. [x]

Nerium oleander is in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It contains several toxic chemicals, including cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycosides are medicinal in small amounts, but are poisonous in large amounts. [x]

Poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix, is far more poisonous than poison ivy or poison oak. If inhaled, smoke from burning poison sumac can cause pulmonary edema. This is because of the urushiol, the same compound in poison ivy. [x]

Hollyhocks are in the Alcea genus, and their thick roots can be used as fuel for fires. [x]

The Japanese drink Amacha is made from the fermented leaves of the endless summer hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla. The possibility of anti-malarial drugs using leaf extract is also being investigated.[x]

Sunflowers, members of the Asteraceae family, are actually made of hundreds of tiny flowers, not just one large one. The center of a sunflower is packed with tiny flowers called disc florets, seen here. The “petals” around the edge of the sunflower head (the whole thing is called an inflorescence) are called ray florets. [x]