Common Sow Thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• corn sow-thistle
• field sow-thistle
• perennial sow-thistle
• corn sow thistle
• field sow thistle
• perennial sow thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, falling into the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Sonchus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of Northern Europe. In the Scandinavian area, its presence is documented in both Denmark and Finland. The species also extends its range to the remote Faroe Islands. Furthermore, it can be found throughout the territory of Great Britain. Finally, the plant is naturally established within the landscape of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sonchus arvensis is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse topographical settings, ranging from sea level to significant altitudes. It is primarily categorized as a lowland species, though it demonstrates a remarkable vertical distribution capacity. The species can be found at elevations starting from 0 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 1300 m AMSL, and it has been documented reaching a maximum elevation of up to 2300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Sonchus arvensis is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial organism, allowing it to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable periods. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal growth cycle. This combination of life forms and growth patterns enables the species to persist in various habitats through both seed production and vegetative survival.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sonchus arvensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or parasitic behavior, functioning as an independent organism. The species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.8625 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.8625 m

Plant height min:

0.06 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sonchus arvensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous species. As a non-carnivorous plant, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than trapping prey. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 25 cm and a mean leaf width of 7 cm, which also represents both its minimum and maximum recorded width. These leaves maintain an average size of 121.92 cm², contributing to an average Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 217 cm²/g, a metric that reflects the plant's leaf density and its strategy for optimizing light interception and gas exchange relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf size mean:

121.92 cm²

Leaf width mean:

7 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

217 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sonchus arvensis is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through October. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects and bees to facilitate fertilization, although self-fertilization is also present. Following pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. These fruits exhibit a mean length of 0.35 cm (ranging from 0.3 to 0.3 cm) and a mean width of 0.1 cm. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00067225 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00035 g to a maximum of 0.00067 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.43 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00067 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00067225 g

Seed mass min:

0.00035 g

Seed volume max:

0.43 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sonchus arvensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Heliyon

Root

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Stem

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Sonchus arvensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, Antioxidants, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Chicoric acid, Indole-3-butyric acid.

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

1. African journal of infectious diseases

Antioxidants

1. Heliyon

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Heliyon

Chicoric acid

1. Heliyon

Indole-3-butyric acid

1. African journal of infectious diseases

apigenin

1. Heliyon

benzyl amino purine

1. African journal of infectious diseases

caffeic acid

1. Heliyon

naphthalene acetic acid

1. African journal of infectious diseases

sucrose

1. African journal of infectious diseases

Conditions

Sonchus arvensis has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, antimalarial, malaria, ulcerative colitis.

Malaria

1. African journal of infectious diseases

Plasmodium falciparum

1. PloS one

Antimalarial

1. African journal of infectious diseases

Malaria

1. PloS one

Ulcerative colitis

1. Heliyon