Sow Thistle

Sonchus oleraceus

Whole plant
Family : Asteraceae
Longevity :Annual
Origin :Introduced
Season :Cool
Sow Thistle is a winter annual that is found in various soil types of the South Texas Plains and the Edwards Plateau. It reaches 6 to 24 inches in height and has spiny lobed leaves. The flower head is made of numerous yellow ray flowers and no disk flowers and is 5/8 to 1 inch in diameter. Sow thistle is considered a weed in most yards and usually blooms all year. The milky sap of this plant was once used for eye ailments and skin imperfections. The leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer.




Images
Flower
Seed head
Leaf
Whole Plant


Home | Grasses | Forbs | Trees and Shrubs

Uvalde Research and Extension Center
2000 Copyright Texas A&M University System