SONCHUS L.SOW THISTLE

SONCHUS L. - SOW THISTLE

Scientific Description:

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Stem leaves usually amplexicaul, entire to pinnatifid, unarmed or spinulose-dentate. Capitula ligulate, homogamous, in ± erect branched panicles. Involucre urceolate-campanulate to cylindrical; phyllaries imbricate, pluriseriate. Receptacle pitted, naked. Achenes obovate or oblanceolate, glabrous, compressed, each face 1−5-ribbed, beak absent. Pappus hairs in 2 rows, consisting of fine bristles and finer capillaceous hairs, white.

Reference:
Matthews VA (1975). Sonchus L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 690.

Public Description:

Sonchus is a genus of annual, biennial or perennial herbs, known as “sow thistle”, and is native to Eurasia and tropical Africa, and also spreads to almost all temperate regions of the world. For this reason, they are considered invasive weeds in many areas. There are approximately 131 species and 7 species (9 taxa) in Türkiye.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus, Accessed date: 22.01.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/genus/sonchus/, Accessed date: 22.01.2016.

Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Compositae/Sonchus//, Accessed date: 22.01.2016.

Ekim T (2012). Sonchus L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 202.