Sonchus asper
Prickly Sow Thistle
an annual member of the Sonchus genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Sonchus
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Hoverflies
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Hoverflies
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Tender young leaves and stem tops - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][10]. They can be added to salads or used like spinach[6]. The young leaves have a mild agreeable flavour[7]. The stems should be bruised and the bitter-tasting milky juice washed out before eating or cooking them[6]. The stems have been peeled and eaten raw like celery[9].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Stem
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant is pounded and applied as a poultice to wounds and boils[8][10].
- Product or use
- Poultice
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to N. Africa, N. and W. Asia.
- Habitat
- Cultivated soil and waste places[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring or late summer in situ.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. This plant has been cultivated for its edible leaves by the Maoris in New Zealand[3].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Les Ecologistes de l'Euzi�re Les Salades Sauvages Not given. 1994-00-00 ISBN 2-906128-04-X
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6