Sonchus oleraceus L.
حواء بقر
Sow thistle, Common milk thistle
Asteraceae
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Morphological Description
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Description
Annual, tender, sparsely branched herb with a hollow, herbaceous stem, usually 10–80 cm tall but sometimes reaching up to 1.4 m. Radical leaves are petiolate, mostly runcinate-pinnately lobed, with an ovate-triangular, obtuse terminal lobe. Caulines are sessile and auriculate. Heads are solitary or arranged in terminal, sub-umbellate clusters, borne on glabrous peduncleswithout stipitate glands, with yellow ligules up to 7 mm long. Fruits are brown to reddish, compressed, five-ribbed, narrowly oblanceolate achenes, 3.5 mm long and 1 mm wide, with a persistent or tardily deciduous pappus, about 10 mm long.
- Growth Form
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Description
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Habitat and Distribution
- Habitat
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Geographical Distribution Range
This Euro-Siberian, Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian species is widely distributed. It occurs throughout Europe, North Africa and West Asia and is considered native across the entire Arabian Peninsula except for Kuwait. The species has also been introduced to Oceania, other parts of Asia, southern Africa and, to a lesser extent, North and South America.
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Ecology
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Phenology
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecFloweringFructification
- Origin
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IUCN Red List Category
Not Evaluated
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Phenology
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Uses and Values
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Aromatic and Medicinal Use
Medicinal use
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Other Usages
Palatable; Edible for birds; Melliferous
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Description of Traditional Uses
Young leaves are eaten as a wild vegetable and used as animal feed. Traditional remedies include preparations for digestive and general health complaints.
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Aromatic and Medicinal Use
Gallery
