Is Sonchus asper invasive?

Annual sowthistle, S. There are 5 Sonchus species common in California, two of which are considered invasive, spiny sowthistle, S. asper, and prickly sow thistle, S.

What is the common name of sonchus Asper?

Spiny-leaved Sow-thistle
Common Name(s): Prickly Sowthistle. Spiney Sowthistle. Spiny-leaved Sow-thistle.

Why is it called sow thistle?

It got the name Sow Thistle from the fact that when cut the plant exudes a latex like milk which was believed to help lactation in mothering sows. It has been used as fodder for many animals, particularly rabbits and pigs.

Where is sow thistle native?

Eurasia
Sonchus asper (L.) Hill Spiny-leaved sow-thistle is native to Eurasia and introduced worldwide, including across North America. It prefers highly disturbed areas, and is a weed of many crops.

Is sonchus Asper edible?

Sonchus asper is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It has also become naturalized on other continents and is regarded as a noxious, invasive weed in many places. Its edible leaves make a palatable and nutritious leaf vegetable.

Are thistles beneficial?

Because thistles draw in so many beneficial pollinators, they also bring in predators such as spiders, ready to ambush unsuspecting prey. Native thistle flowers are a good spot to hunt because the insect visitation rates are so high. Native thistles inhabit a variety of habitat types.

Is sow thistle good for wildlife?

There are two thistles to trouble gardeners and farmers: the purple-flowered, spiny-leaved Creeping Thistle, and the yellow-flowered Sow Thistle. Both have strong root systems, and set seed surprisingly quickly. But both have an important role in supporting wildlife.

Is sonchus Oleraceus edible?

In southern Italy Sonchus invades crops there but they have the good sense to pick it and serve it with spaghetti. Oleraceus means it is edible or cultivated.

Are sow thistles invasive?

arvensis and ssp. uliginosus) is an invasive plant that is problematic throughout North America. Sowthistle is a serious problem in agricultural areas because it has been found to reduce crop yield greatly (Royer and Dickinson 1999), and it also reduces the growth of native plants in a variety of settings.

Can humans eat sow thistle?

SOWTHISTLE AS FOOD The best part of the plant is the young leaves, raw or cooked. They can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc. You can also use the stems, cooked like asparagus or rhubarb.

How do you use sonchus Asper?

Sonchus asper is eaten cooked and raw in salads in Africa, Madagascar(Grubben & Denton, 2004) and in the Mediterranean (Leonti et al., 2006) Its roots, stem, leaves, juice, latex or whole plant has also been used to treat a vast variety of conditions, ailments and diseases.

What kind of flower is a Sonchus asper?

Sonchus asper, or Prickly Sowthistle, is a spring or summer annual herbaceous wildflower, with spiney leaves and yellow flowers and is often considered a weed because of its aggressive spread.

What kind of plant is Sonchus oleraceus Calflora?

Sonchus oleraceus Calflora Calflora Taxon Report 7682 Sonchus oleraceus L. Common sow thistle, Common sowthistle, Sow thistle 2019 Diane Etchison 2015 Jesse Rorabaugh 2008 Gary McDonald 2009 Zoya Akulova 2016 Andrew Longman 2016 Andrew Longman 2004 Laura Ann Eliassen 2008 Gary McDonald 2019 Ed McCarthy 2014 Bryan Derr

Where can I find information on Calflora plants?

Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. [web application]. 2021. Berkeley, California:The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization].

Is the dicot Sonchus oleraceus native to California?

Sonchus oleraceus, a dicot, is an annual herbthat is not nativeto California. Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas