Solution: Dandelion look-alike - NYT Crossword

If you’re a plant person, shaking your head at the notion that there’s a weed you’ve never heard of, take solace that CATS EAR is a debut (although the actual plant is widespread in the U.S. and we may well have pulled it at some point). It has yellow flowers similar to a dandelion, but its leaves are simple and covered in soft hair, rather than complex and serrated, like a “lion’s tooth.” It’s fun to see this crossed with CTSCAN, which might have helped people with their deductions, and maybe a little fun (after the fact) to see this crossed with AREOLE, which comes with a botanical clue.