Sonchus oleraceus L.

Spice Flower detail Flower In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Sonchus

Catalan common name: Lletsó.

Spanish common name: Cerraja. Lechuguilla.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones.

Characteristics: A fairly large weed, can reach a metre and a half in height, leaves are lobed with a terminal segment that is larger than the others. Can be distinguished from Sonchus tenerrimus because the leaf lobes are fairly wide and the petiole is wide and leafy in appearance, additionally the flower ligules are short and narrow, and a pale yellow in colour in contrast to the other Sonchus. Differs from Sonchus asper as in this latter species, the auricles hug the stem.