sow thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• annual sow-thistle
• Common Sow-Thistle
• Smooth Sow-Thistle
• Wild Salad
• annual sow thistle
• common milk thistle
• common sow thistle
• hare's-lettuce
• milk thistle
• smooth sow thistle
• sow thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sonchus oleraceus var. lacerus
• Sonchus angustissimus
• Sonchus lacerus
• Sonchus laevis
• Sonchus oleraceus var. integrifolius
• Sonchus oleraceus var. triangularis
• Sonchus pallescens
• Sonchus parviflorus
• Sonchus reversus
• Sonchus roseus
• Sonchus royleanus
• Sonchus oleraceus f. runcinatus
• Sonchus schimperi
• Sonchus oleraceus subsp. angustissimus
• Sonchus longifolius
• Sonchus fabrae
• Sonchus subbipinnatifidus
• Sonchus oleraceus var. latifolius
• Sonchus oleraceus var. laciniatus
• Sonchus oleraceus var. integrifolius
• Sonchus oleraceus var. subrotundus
• Sonchus oleraceus var. laevis
• Sonchus ciliatus var. subbipinnatifidus
• Sonchus sundaicus
• Sonchus umbellifer
• Sonchus zacinthoides
• Sonchus oleraceus var. angustifolius
• Sonchus gracilis
• Sonchus mairei
• Sonchus rivularis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and the genus Sonchus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Sonchus oleraceus, exhibits a specific distribution across the regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the coastal and inland landscapes of Denmark. The species is also documented throughout the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations highlight the plant's establishment in several key Northern European nations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sonchus oleraceus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a remarkable ability to colonize diverse environmental settings. It thrives across an expansive elevational range, starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3,900 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1,685 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, frequently occurring in anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) as well as within various natural biomes. Its habitat preferences include the Caatinga (strictu sensu), the open grasslands of Campo Limpo, and the more expansive Cerrado (lato sensu) ecosystems, allowing it to adapt to both disturbed landscapes and specific Brazilian vegetation types.

Elevational range max:

3900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1685 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Genetics

The genetics of Sonchus oleraceus are characterized by significant cytogenetic variability, particularly regarding its chromosomal composition. The species exhibits a range of chromosome numbers, documented at 16, 18, 32, and 36, which reflects its complex evolutionary history and potential for polyploidization. Despite this numerical variation across different populations or accessions, the fundamental ploidy level is identified as 2, indicating a diploid state in the core genetic framework. This combination of variable chromosome counts within a diploid context suggests intricate genomic restructuring or chromosomal rearrangements that contribute to the species' genetic diversity.

Chromosome number :

16, 18, 32, 36

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Sonchus oleraceus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from seed germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable environmental conditions primarily through its seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become suitable for rapid growth and reproduction. Furthermore, the species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle to manage resources and respond to changing environmental pressures.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Sonchus oleraceus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it maintains an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing instead within soil-based environments. The plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of approximately 3.05 m, maintaining an average plant height of 0.975 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.048037064 m

Plant height mean:

0.975 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sonchus oleraceus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative structure is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement and a non-succulent morphology. The leaves exhibit a pinnatipartite form, with dimensions varying significantly; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, while leaf width fluctuates between 1 cm and 15 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 7 cm. The average leaf size is recorded at 106.115 cm², supported by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 405.27 cm²/g, indicating its leaf mass per area and resource allocation strategy. Furthermore, the plant is a non-carnivorous species and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nutrient uptake for its developmental requirements.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

pinnatipartite

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

106.115 cm²

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

405.27 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sonchus oleraceus is characterized by a sexual, bisexual reproductive strategy, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The flowering process occurs within a seasonal window starting in June and concluding in October, featuring flowers with a brown coloration arranged in a raceme inflorescence. Pollination is primarily a biotic process mediated by insects, with bees serving as key pollinators. Following successful pollination, which can occur through self-fertilization, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. These fruits typically measure between 0.2 cm and 0.35 cm in length and 0.06 cm to 0.1 cm in width. The reproductive output is high, often yielding more than 1,000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean length of 3.2 mm, a mean volume of 1.2 mm³, and a mean mass of approximately 0.000328238 g (ranging from 0.000119 g to 0.00055 g). Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are specialized for dispersal by wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

brown

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.35 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.1 cm

Fruit width min:

0.06 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

3.2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00055 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000328238 g

Seed mass min:

0.000119 g

Seed volume max:

1.2 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sonchus oleraceus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Sonchus oleraceus has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, IRON, Antioxidants, Apigenin 7-glucuronide, Ash.

Flavonoids

1. PloS one
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Antioxidants

1. PeerJ

Apigenin 7-glucuronide

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CU

1. Marine pollution bulletin

Caoutchouc

1. Dr. Duke

Chlorophylls

1. PeerJ

Activities

Sonchus oleraceus has 235 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimutagenic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in toxicology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in toxicology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in toxicology

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Sonchus oleraceus has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include infections, inflammation, oxidative stress, Diabetes mellitus, anxiety.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations