Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L. Common Sow-thistle

Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L. - Common Sow-thistle

Scientific Description:

Annual or biennial, 10−150 cm, often glandular-hairy above and white-hairy at top of peduncles. Basal leaves ovate to obovate, entire or lobed at apex, with winged petiole, lower cauline leaves oblong to spathulate, pinnatifid-runcinate, lobes not narrowed at base, auricles acute, upper cauline leaves ovate to lanceolate, entire or pinnatifid, with acute auricles; all leaves with entire or dentate margin. Involucre urceolate-campanulate, sometimes glandular-hairy. Capitula 2−2.5 cm broad. Ligules pale yellow, outer ones often crimson on back, ± equal to corolla tubes. Achene 2−3 mm, slightly compressed, each face 3-ribbed, minutely tuberculate between ribs. Pappus 6−10 mm.

Flowering time: March−May.

Habitat: Fields, waste places, s.l.−1300 m.

Reference:
Matthews VA (1975). Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 691.

Public Description:

Sonchus oleraceus, known as “common sow-thistle”, is naturally distributed in Europe and western Asia. It is an annual herb with a hollow, upright stem, and grows up to 150 cm high. It has yellow-colored flowers and is usually pollinated by bees and flies. It blooms between March and May and is found in fields and waste places. It is considered an invasive species in many places, where it is found mostly in disturbed areas.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus_oleraceus/, Accessed date: 15.11.2017.

Anonymous 2 (2017). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/search/?q=Sonchus+oleraceus+,Accessed date: 15.11.2017.

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.