Sonchus asper (L.) Hill

Spice

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Sonchus

Catalan common name: Lletsó bord. Lletsó punxós.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches).

Characteristics: This sow thistle has prickly leaves and the auricles at the base of the leaf hug the stem; flowers are pale yellow in colour. Lives in wet and at times flooded soils. Can be told apart from other Sonchus by the form of its auricles; the degree of prickliness of the leaves is not a dependable characteristic as Sonchus oleraceus also has prickles.