I think the paper “Taraxacum: ploidy levels, hybridization and speciation. The advantage and consequence of combining reproductive systems” is the best/clearest summary of the interpretation of Taraxacum’s behavior as a reproductive strategy and explaining the issues with interpreting the behavior in terms of a microspecies concept instead. Choice quotes below in case anyone has issues downloading it:
Many taxonomists feel not particularly attracted to the genus Taraxacum Weber ex F.H. Wigg., to say the least.
It was assumed that apomictic seed production prevailed in the large majority of the derived taxa, whereas sexual reproduction was said to be restricted to the primitive ones. Apomixis leads to fixed patterns of morphological traits within clonal families. The consequent, apparently consistent morphological differences between clones provided the basis for the extensive (micro-)taxonomy. However, sexual reproduction is more common than assumed: sexuality occurs in many sections.
Very many of the microspecies have been based on the assumption of full apomictic behaviour and consecutive genetic isolation. However, it is well established now that sexual reproduction is less rare than commonly was assumed, and this may have consequences for taxonomy
In Ruderalia and Erythrosperma, cooccurrence of sexual diploids and asexual triploids in mixed populations is very common in central and southern Europe. The following has been found: 1, apomixis is not obligate, polyploids show a variable (low) degree of sexuality by means of several mechanisms; 2, in mixed populations, hybridization, and introgression between ploidy levels takes place; this also leads to 3), a di-/ triploid cycle, that may bring extra potential for evolutionary response to environmental change. These processes may lead to: 1, the continuous production of new apomictic lineages (microspecies), 2, the fade-away of others (due to introgressive hybridization and selection), and 3, the generation of advanced diploids as well.
NB: their Section Ruderalia=Section Taraxacum (which contains T. officinale) on inat.
Sections in which these phenomena are present, are to characterise as evolutionary very dynamic, but at the same time as taxonomicaly very difficult to treat, among other things, because the “micro-species” concept is of limited applicability.
One of the other conclusions that has been drawn from these data is that there are
very many sexual plants co-occurring with the apomicts in the populations. This situation was hardly known by the taxonomists, who described hundreds of
microspecies, assuming that al plants are equally fully apomictic.
Completely contrary to the assumption hold by Taraxacum taxonomists, sometimes even the type material of a (micro-)species proved to be diploid.
A single 30 plant sample from a 2x/3x population in the South of The Netherlands, showed 16 clones, and a large sample of 262 plants from the Hedel population (see above) turned out to contain as many as 73 clones. The quite high figure for clonal diversity (0.94) suggests that almost every individual is a particular genotype (for details, see MENKEN & al. 1995; DEN Nus & MENKEN, 1996). Altogether, there is ample data that point to the occurrence of bidirectional hybridizations between (at least some) polyploids and sexual diploids where these ploidy levels co-occur.
In pioneer habitats, the almost 100% reproductive output, which is inherently independent of pollination, guarantees the triploids a succesful population development. On the other hand, there can be a shift to sexual reproduction in circumstances that favour genetic diversity.
the description at the species level of all discontinuities in the spectrum of apomictic morphs never will produce a realistic picture of the situation in those sections where these hybridizations occur.