Do dandelion roots only grow down, even in rocky soil?

Question

There is a huge area by two large maple trees which I am weeding before putting down weed mats, slate, mulch, and a set of huge rocks for "seating" and decor.

So, the area has been grubby, grassless, and full of weeds for probably a few years before I got here two years ago...

And I know what regular dandelion roots look like, and have pulled some of the newer ones out "completely".

But there are similar roots, very sweet-potato-skin brown, that are growing for many inches and even feet across the soil, which break easily, and are very whitish inside, as are regular dandelion roots.

Could these possibly be large systems?

Or is each plant capped out at about 8" deep, growing downward only?

Answer 1

No, those fleshy fragile roots are more like milkweed roots - which travel long distances sideways, then pop up to the surface at various points along the way.  But if they are very sweet-potato like, they could be hosta roots or Dahlia bulb, but it would depend - what has happened to the top of the plant?  Dandilion roots will twist around obstructions, but the key to their vigor is their ability to tap deeper soil moisture, so they would be pretty sickly if the roots were just below the surface.  So if the roots are uniformly about 3/8" thick to maybe 1/2", those would be Milkweed, but ones that have bulges in them are something else that is just dormant at the moment or has been killed by something but has not rotted yet.