Which flower's name, when translated from French into English, would be "lion's tooth?"

The name for this familiar yellow yard-dweller has a surprisingly fierce origin. The word is a direct borrowing from the French phrase *dent-de-lion*, which literally translates to "tooth of the lion." This isn't a reference to the flower's sunny bloom or fluffy seed head, but rather to its leaves. If you look closely at the base of the plant, you'll see that its long, green leaves have sharply serrated, jagged edges that resemble a line of pointed teeth, giving the plant its leonine name.

This isn't the only descriptive name the plant has earned over the centuries. In France, it also carries the rather blunt folk name *pissenlit*, which means "piss-a-bed." This nickname is a nod to the plant's potent diuretic properties, a quality that was well-known in herbal medicine. Long before it was considered a stubborn lawn weed, this versatile plant was a valuable resource. Its leaves were eaten in salads, its roots were roasted to make a coffee substitute, and its bright blossoms were fermented into wine.