About Sonchus asper (L.) Hill
Sonchus asper (L.) Hill is an annual or biennial herb that can grow up to 200 centimetres (6.6 ft) tall. It has spiny leaves and yellow flowers that look like dandelion flowers. The leaves are bluish-green, simple, and lanceolate, with wavy, sometimes lobed margins. Spines cover both the leaf margins and the undersides of the leaves. The base of each leaf wraps around the stem. When cut, both leaves and stems release a milky sap. A single plant produces several flat-topped clusters of flower heads; each flower head contains many yellow ray flowers and no disc flowers. This species is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It has become naturalized across other continents, and is considered a noxious invasive weed in many locations. Its leaves are edible, and can be used as a palatable, nutritious leaf vegetable. Sonchus asper grows in cultivated soil, pastures, roadsides, yard edges, vacant lots, construction sites, waste areas, and grasslands.
