Species Detail Forb

Flower head		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Sonchus asper - spiny sowthistle Synonyms: Sonchus nymanii Other Common Names: prickley sowthistle Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Asteraceae
Flower head


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Leaves Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Introduced Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: This is an annual plant with spiny leaves and yellow dandelion-like flowers. It is native to Europe and is considered to be an undesirable import.
Identification notes: Auricles, (an earlike projection on the base of the leaf), are rounded and achenes are not transversely wrinkled, distinguishes this species from Sonchus oleraceus.
Height: 1 to 6 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: An invasive weed found along roadsides, in waste areas, gardens, and cultivated fields. The deep taproot and spiny leaves make it hard to eradicate.
Plant Communities: Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 150 - 7000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Yellow Shape: Daisy or dandelion-like in round clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: Apr - Sep
Description: The 1 inch flower is made up of ray petals with fringed tips. Clustered flowers are on individual stalks. Dependent on the plant colony, any given plant will flower from late spring to early fall.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Round or oval Leaf Margin: Toothed Leaf Attachment: Basal and alternate Leaves Clasp: Y
Hairs: No Spines: Y
Leaf Description: Lower leaves are lobed and toothed with spiny margins; leaves of the stem have sharp, stiff prickles and large rounded basal lobes which clasp the stem. Both the stems and leaves contain a milky sap.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Brown
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: The fruit is flat and three-ribbed on each face and has a cluster of fine hairs attached to the upper end.
Seed Notes: Seeds are wind dispersed.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer