Spiny Sowthistle (Sonchus Asper)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Group: Dicot (Broadleaf)
An annual herb whose leaves and hollow stems have milky sap, native to Europe and western Africa. It is commonly found in cultivated fields, roadsides, and non-crop areas.
Leaves are alternate, basal deeply lobed, irregularly toothed margins and sharp pointed prickles, and the base of the leaf blade rounded with clasp around stem.
Stem is erect, 4 to 5 feet tall, coarse, hollow with milky sap, branched at the top.
Flower is bright yellow and borne in small heads. Seeds are reddish brown, with tufts of long hair at the crown.
Root is fibrous from a short taproot.
Propagation is by seed.