Flower ID: IMG_7179.JPG-06-27-2021 Flower name (scientific): Sonchus asper (Linnaeus) Hill PY: 1769. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) SON-chus AS-per Flower name (common): Spiny Sowthistle Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: The Greek name for sowthistle. Origin unknown. Specific epithet: Latin for rough and refers to a plant with rough or prickly leaves. Common name origin: Spiny for the prickly leaves and sowthistle refers to its attractiveness to swine. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 11 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 4 to 80 inches (10 to 200 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, mid cauline spatulate or oblong to obovate or lanceolate (FNA), pinnatifid, or broadly lanceolate or oblanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste areas, roadsides, prairies, fields, sun, moist to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Sonchus arvensis (Perennial Sowthistle) and Sonchus oleraceus (Common Sowthistle) have a resemblance to Sonchus asper. They can be differentiated as follows: S. asper has flower heads about 13 to 27 mm wide with leaves clasping and curving around the stem and rather prickly, S. oleraceus has flower heads about 13 to 25 mm wide with leaves clasping around the stem, whereas S. arvensis has flower heads about 25 to 51 mm wide with leaves clasping only part of the way around the stem. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Iroquois used the plant as a pediatric aid. The Navajo employed the plant to treat heart palpitations. Four tribes used the plant as a food source (Moerman, p. 538, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green Lake, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Sonchus oleraceus var. asper Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 794 1753. Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Sonchus asper subsp. asper (The other infraspecific is Sonchus asper subsp. glaucescens (Claude Jordan) Ball which has not been recorded from North America.) Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU