Smooth Sow-thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
Description
Short to tall greyish plant. Upper leaves clasp the stem with triangular, leaves with pointed basal lobes. Flowerheads pale yellow 20 to 25 mm, borne in lax clusters.
Similar Species
It can be very similar to Prickly Sow-thistle with which it hybridises.
Identification difficulty
Habitat
Bare and waste ground, roadsides. A weed of cultivation.
When to see it
May to November.
Life History
Annual.
UK Status
Very common throughout Britain except for parts of the Scottish Highlands.
VC55 Status
Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 530 of the 617 tetrads.
 B4114 Sapcote SP 4904 9227 (taken 10.6.2007).JPG)
Graham CalowSapcote10 June 2007
David NichollsMartinshaw Wood05 July 2012leaf with pointed basal lobes Church Walk Sapcote SP 4894 9320 (taken 11.10.2008).JPG)
Graham CalowSapcote11 October 2008
Alan SemperHarby roadside18 April 2014
LostashLoughborough GCR Station01 June 2014
 B4114 Sapcote SP 4904 9227 (taken 10.6.2007).JPG)
 Church Walk Sapcote SP 4894 9320 (taken 11.10.2008).JPG)
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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UK Map
David NichollsThornton Reservoir05 June 2012
Graham CalowSapcote21 May 2014
David NichollsBurroughs Road, Ratby18 August 2012
David NichollsBurroughs Road, Ratby18 August 2012
David NichollsAbbey Park, Leicester20 May 2011
David NichollsEvington Park25 May 2012
Alan SemperHarby churchyard28 May 2012
Alan SemperHarby churchyard28 May 2012
David NichollsMartinshaw Wood05 July 2012
David NichollsMartinshaw Wood05 July 2012
