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prickly sowthistle

Sonchus asper

Prickly sowthistle is a tall plant with spiky leaves and bright yellow flowers. It often grows in gardens and fields, and its flowers attract many bees and butterflies.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The prickly sowthistle has bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers and shiny, deeply lobed leaves with spiny margins. Its clasping leaf bases wrap around the stem, a distinct feature setting it apart from other similar weeds. When broken, it releases a milky white sap.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusSonchus
prickly sowthistle
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgesummer_blooming trait badgeedible trait badge
prickly sowthistle

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its common name, 'sowthistle,' comes from pigs loving to eat this plant!

Its scientific name, 'asper,' means 'rough,' perfectly describing its spiky leaves.

The plant's milky sap was once used as a traditional folk remedy for warts!

Young prickly sowthistle leaves are a nutritious wild edible, even raw!

Special abilities

Ability

Spiny Armor

Prickly sowthistle has sharp, spiky leaf edges that help it defend against hungry animals trying to take a bite.

Ability

Milky Sap Defense

Prickly sowthistle releases a sticky, bitter white sap when injured, which deters many insects and larger herbivores.

Ability

Seed Gliders

Prickly sowthistle produces seeds with feathery parachutes that allow them to float far away on the wind.

Measurements & details

Height
30-150 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to Fall
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

gathers nectar and pollen

eaten by

European rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

eats its leaves and stems

eaten by

Garden snail

Helix aspersa

grazes on its foliage

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking any plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is prickly sowthistle?

30-150 cm

How big are the flowers on prickly sowthistle?

1-2 cm

When does prickly sowthistle bloom?

Spring to Fall

Is prickly sowthistle edible?

Yes

Is prickly sowthistle toxic?

None

What is prickly sowthistle's lifecycle?

Annual

How is prickly sowthistle pollinated?

Insect

Where is prickly sowthistle usually found?

Urban areas

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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