Species: Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper)
Family: Asters (ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Asters (ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE)
This is one of the largest worldwide flowering plant families and is well represented in the UK. The name Compositae refers to the clustering of the flowers (called florets) into compact heads, so that an entire cluster represents a single 'flower'. They also have one-seeded fruits called achenes.
C. Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper)
This native species has leaves that are often undivided, but with sharp spines and clasping the stems with rounded lobes. The May flowerheads are yellow, and the pappuses can be used like the dandelion clock.
Images
Prickly Sow-thistle
Prickly Sow-thistle has leaves that are often undivided, but with sharp spines and clasping the stems with rounded lobes.
Prickly Sow-thistle
The May flowerheads of Prickly Sow-thistle are yellow, and the pappuses can be used like the dandelion clock.
Prickly Sow-thistle
Note how Prickly Sow-thistles resemble dandelions.
