Scientific Name:
Sonchus oleraceus
Pronunciation:
SON-chus awl-lur-RAY-see-us
Common Name:
annual sow thistle
Family Name:
Asteraceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true), Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Habit tall, sturdy, dandelion-like with milky sap; leaves lobed with margin spiny; flower heads 1.5-2.5cm wide; short taproot (compared to perennial sow thistle head that are 3-5cm wide and form deep, rhizome-like roots.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Pyramidal - narrowly
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Landscape Uses:
Herb, Medicinal plant
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to the perennial sow thistle.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Prickly
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Lanceolate, Oblanceolate, Other
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Auriculate, Sheathing
Margins:
Pinnately lobed, Spinose
Inflorescence Type:
Head (capitulum)
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Yellow
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May, Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
only ray florets present
Fruit Type:
Cypsela (achene + calyx)
Fruit Colour:
White, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
