Flower ID: IMG_7708.JPG-07-13-2021 Flower name (scientific): Sonchus oleraceus Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) SON-chus awl-lur-RAY-see-us (or ol-e-RAY-see-us or ol-er-A-se-us) Flower name (common): Common Sowthistle Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: The Greek name for sowthistle. Origin unknown. Specific epithet: Cultivated in a vegetable garden or edible vegetable. Sowthistle has been used as a salad herb and as a cooked vegetable. Common name origin: Referring to the occurrence, and sowthistle from its attractiveness to swine. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 30 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 24 to 78 inches (61 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 with deep triangular lobes (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Biennial Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste areas, roadsides, fields, pastures, along streams, sun, moist to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Sonchus arvensis (Perennial Sowthistle) and Sonchus asper (Spiny Sowthistle) have a resemblance to Sonchus oleraceus. 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 Houma used the plant to treat bowel issues, tooth problems, tardy menstruation. The Pima employed the plant to cure opium habit (Moerman, p. 538, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, 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, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU