Sow thistle, milk thistle
Sonchus oleraceus, Fam. Asteraceae
Erect, soft textured annual herb, 1.2-2m tall with green or bluish-green stems and milky sap.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Herb |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Simple, alternate, sometimes initially forming a basal rosette, lower leaves up to 250 x 100mm, deeply divided into irregular lobes, the end lobe spade-shaped, margins toothed; upper leaves decreasing in size, becoming narrower, tapering into the tip and clasping the stem with a pair of pointed lobes at base. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow |
| Flower description: | Fluffy heads, 10-20mm wide, yellow ‘petals’ and centres; borne in groups on long stout and hollow flowering stems. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown, White |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Brown ‘seeds’ 2.5-4mm long, compressed, longitudinally ribbed, transversely wrinkled and topped with ‘parachute’ of white fluffy hairs 5-8mm long. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Europe, Asia and northern Africa |
| Notes: | Spread by: wind, water, and contaminated soil. Invades/threats: cropland, disturbed and waste land along roadsides, gardens. Notes: young leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
