Sonchus asper

Sonchus asper
Sonchus asper2.jpg
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Sonchus
Species: S. asper

Binomial name
Sonchus asper
(L.) Hill

Sonchus asper(Sharp-fringed Sow Thistle, Spiny Sow Thistle, or Spiny-leaved Sow Thistle) is an annual plant with spiny leaves and yellow flowers resembling those of the dandelion. The leaves are bluish-green, simple, lanceolate, with wavy and sometimes lobed margins, covered in spines on both the margins and beneath. The base of the leaf surrounds the stem. The plant can reach 180 cm (6 ft) in height. The leaves and stems emit a milky sap when cut. The flowers grow in clusters and the end of the stems.

This plant is native to Europe, but is also a common weed in North American roadsides, landscapes, and pastures. Its edible leaves make a palatable and nutritious leaf vegetable.

External links

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