About Sonchus acaulis Dum.Cours.
Sonchus acaulis Dum.Cours. is a perennial species with a woody base. It produces a single large basal rosette of leaves that can grow up to 1 meter across. Its leaves are pinnatifid, wooly, and have a pointed tip. The scape can reach up to 1.5 meters in height and does not bear bracts. The inflorescence forms an umbellate cluster of flower heads. Peduncles hold 1 to several heads and are covered in wooly fuzz. The involucral bracts are broad and very densely covered with white tomentum. Individual flower heads are approximately 2.5 centimeters across, with numerous yellow ray flowers and no disc flowers. On Tenerife, this species is widespread across forest and xerophytic zones, ranging from Sierra Anaga to Teno, and grows particularly along the northern coast. On Gran Canaria, it occurs in montane regions at elevations of 500 to 1600 meters, at locations including Los Tiles de Moya, Tenteniguada, Cruz de Tejeda, and Roque Nublo, where it is locally frequent.
