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Asteraceae
Sonchus

not marked as a favorite taxon *Sonchus oleraceus Linnaeus. Common name: Common Sow-thistle. Phenology: Late Mar-Jul. Habitat: Roadsides, fields, pastures, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Bah, C, F, Fl7, FNA19, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV. Basionym: Sonchus oleraceus L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Sonchus oleraceus - FNA19

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
  • Great Plains: UPL
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image #1 of Sonchus oleraceus© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Sonchus oleraceus© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Sonchus oleraceus© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Sonchus oleraceus© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Sonchus oleraceus© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect annual of roadsides, fields, pastures and other open, disturbed areas. Native of Europe.

Stems: Stems mostly unbranched, sometimes reddish-purple-tinged, usually smooth, leaking milky sap when broken.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile with pointed basal lobes clasping the stem, oblong-oval to lance-shaped and divided into several sharp-toothed segments, 2-11 in. long, with a few prickles on the margins and smooth; leaking milky sap when broken.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in small branching, terminal cluster on a long stalk; heads about 3/4 in. wide, consisting of numerous yellow ray florets with blunt tips. The urn-shaped base of the head is enclosed in overlapping dull green, lance-shaped bracts.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of white-tufted achenes.

Comments:

Height: 1/2-5 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect annual of roadsides, fields, pastures and other open, disturbed areas. Native of Europe.

stems: Stems mostly unbranched, sometimes reddish-purple-tinged, usually smooth, leaking milky sap when broken.

leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile with pointed basal lobes clasping the stem, oblong-oval to lance-shaped and divided into several sharp-toothed segments, 2-11 in. long, with a few prickles on the margins and smooth; leaking milky sap when broken.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in small branching, terminal cluster on a long stalk; heads about 3/4 in. wide, consisting of numerous yellow ray florets with blunt tips. The urn-shaped base of the head is enclosed in overlapping dull green, lance-shaped bracts.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of white-tufted achenes.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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