Spiny Sowthistle

Sonchus1.bmp (2192190 bytes)

Rosette.

Sonchus2.bmp (2369370 bytes)

Leaves and stems.  Key characteristics: leaf margins are wavy and contain prickly spines.  Both leaves and stems have milky sap.

Sonchus3.bmp (1709566 bytes)

Flowers.  Key characteristics: yellow and approximately 1 inch in diameter.

  

Seed.  Seed are ribbed, have a feathery pappus attached to one terminal and the length is slightly greater than 2.0 mm (without the pappus).  

Life cycle: winter annual.