Sonchus Sp. - Sow Thistle

Family: Aster

(Above)Sonchus asper

(Above)Sonchus asper

(Above)Sonchus asper

"Annual to perennial herb [shrub]; sap milky. Stem: erect, smooth, distally branched. Leaf: basal and cauline, alternate, ± entire to toothed and coarsely pinnate-lobed; cauline generally sessile, clasping. Inflorescence: heads liguliflorous, in cyme-like clusters; involucre swollen at base; phyllaries generally in 3 series, outer many, short-triangular, inner series linear, tapered; receptacle ± flat, epaleate. Flower: many; ligule yellow, readily withering. Fruit: generally ± flat, beakless; pappus of many fine, white bristles."
"± 55 species: Eurasia, Africa. (Ancient Greek name for a kind of thistle) [Hyatt 2006 FNANM 19:273–276]"
"Unabridged references: [Boulos 1972–74 Bot Not 125:287–319, 126:155–196; 127:7–37, 402–451]" [Jepson]

"Sow-thistles have milky latex; true thistles do not." ^[PCBC] "All three sow-thistle species were introduced to North America from Europe and are well-known weeds. the perennial sow-thistle being considered one of the worst weeds of all. Each species occurs throughout Canada. Perennial sow-thistle is most common in Quebec. Ontario, and the Prairie Provinces, while the other two are prevalent in Qlwbee, Ontario, and British Columbia." ^[EGWC]

Local Species;

1. Sonchus arvensis - perennial sow-thistle ^{[E-flora][PCBC]}
2. Sonchus asper - prickly sow-thistle ^{[E-flora][PCBC]}
3. Sonchus oleraceus - common sow-thistle ^{[E-flora][PCBC]}

Sonchus arvensis L. - Perennial sow-thistle

• Other Names: field sowthistle ^[E-flora-1]
• SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
  • Sonchus arvensis ssp. arvensis
  • Sonchus arvensis ssp. uliginosus ^[E-flora-1]
• Syn:
  • Sonchus arvensis var. glabrescens Guenth., Grab. & Wimm.
  • Sonchus uliginosus M. Bieb. ^[E-flora-1]

"Perennial sow-thistle is a common introduced weed species in southern British Columbia that originates in Europe. It is found along roadsides and in other disturbed sites. It can be identified by the yellow composite (daisy-like) flower heads with strap-shaped flowers, lack of basal leaves, and prickly-margined stem leaves. Plants exude milky juice when broken." ^[????]

• General: "Perennial herb from a long, vertical and horizontal, rhizome-like, deep-seated root; stems erect, solitary, few-branched above, glabrous below, usually glandular-bristly above, hollow, exuding milky juice when broken, 0.4-2.0 m tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-1]}
• Leaves: Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, prickly-margined, deeply lobed or pinnately cut, 6-40 cm long, 2-15 cm wide, with clasping leaf bases, upper leaves reduced. ^{[IFBC-E-flora-1]}
• Flowers: Heads with strap-shaped flowers, several on glandular stalks in an open, flat- or round-topped inflorescence, relatively large, commonly 3-5 cm wide in flower; involucres 14-22 mm tall; involucral bracts lanceolate, tapering to a slender tip at the apex, glabrous, obscurely woolly-hairy or more or less copiously covered with coarse, spreading, gland-tipped hairs and often with tufts of woolly-hair as well, outer ones often becoming ridged-thickened in age; ray flowers yellow. ^{[IFBC-E-flora-1]}
• Fruits: Achenes 2.5-3.5 mm long, ribbed, cross-wrinkled; pappus of white hairlike bristles. ^{[IFBC-E-flora-1]}
• Habitat/Range: Mesic to dry ditches, roadsides, disturbed areas and gardens in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in S BC; introduced from Europe. ^{[IFBC-E-flora-1]} "Arable and waste land, ditches and on the drift line of salt and brackish margins, avoiding acid soils[4, 9, 17]. A persistent weed of cultivation[1]" "Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to Spain and W. Asia." ^[PFAF]
• Status: Exotic ^[E-flora-1]
• Notes: Two varieties occur in BC:
  • 1. Involucres and stalks of the heads with coarse, spreading, gland-tipped hairs................. var. arvensis
  • 1. Involucres and stalks of the heads glabrous or obscurely woolly-hairy...................... var. glabrescens Guenth., Grab. & Wimm. ^{[IFBC-E-flora-1]}

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill - prickly sow-thistle

• Other Names: (spiny sowthistle) ^[E-flora-2]
• Syn:
  • Sonchus asper subsp. asper
  • Sonchus asper subsp. glaucescens (Jord.) J. Ball
  • Sonchus nymanii Tineo & Guss. ^[E-flora-2]
• General: "Annual herb from a short taproot; stems erect, solitary, few-branched above, glabrous, hollow, exuding milky juice when broken, 0.1-1 m tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-2]}
• Leaves: "Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, prickly- margined, lowermost with stalks but not so clearly divided (as in S. oleraceus) into blade and stalk, more or less egg-shaped, uppermost deeply pinnately cut to egg-shaped and lobeless with rounded, clasping flanges at the base, 6-30 cm long, 1-15 cm wide." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-2]}
• Flowers: "Heads with strap-shaped flowers, several on sometimes glandular stalks in an open, flat-topped inflorescence, relatively small, commonly 1.5-2.5 cm wide in flower; involucres 9-14 mm tall; involucral bracts lanceolate, tapering to a slender tip at the apex, glabrous except for some spreading, gland-tipped hairs; ray flowers yellow." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-2]}
• Fruits: "Achenes 2.5-3 mm long, with 3 or rarely 4-5 conspicuous longitudinal ribs on each face, not wrinkled; pappus of white hairlike bristles." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-2]}
• Habitat / Range: "Mesic to dry roadsides, disturbed areas and gardens in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent in all but N regions of BC; introduced from Europe." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-2]} "Cultivated soil and waste places[17]." "Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to N. Africa, N. and W. Asia." ^[PFAF]
• Status: Exotic ^[E-flora-2]

Sonchus oleraceus L. - Common sow-thistle

• (annual sow-thistle; common sowthistle) ^[E-flora-3]
• General: "Annual herbs from a short taproot; stems erect, solitary, few-branched above, glabrous, hollow, exuding milky juice when broken, 0.1-1 m tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-3]}
• Leaves: "Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, weakly or scarcely prickly-margined, lowermost stalked, backward-swept pinnately cut to occasionally merely toothed, 6-30 cm long, 1-15 cm wide, uppermost lobed with sharply pointed ear-lke lobes." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-3]}
• Flowers: "Heads with strap-shaped flowers, several on sometimes glandular stalks in an open, flat- or round-topped inflorescence, relatively small, commonly 1.5-2.3 cm wide in flower; involucres 9-14 mm tall; involucral bracts lanceolate, tapering to a slender tip at the apex, glabrous except for some spreading, gland-tipped hairs; ray flowers yellow." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-3]}
• Fruits: "Achenes 2.5-3 mm long, with 3-5 evident to rather obscure longitudinal ribs on each face, cross-wrinkled; pappus of white hairlike bristles." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-3]}
• Habitat / Range: "Mesic to dry roadsides, disturbed areas and gardens in the lowland and lower montane zone; frequent on S Vancouver Island, infrequent elsewhere on the coast; introduced from Europe." ^{[IFBC-E-flora-3]} "Waysides, waste and cultivated ground[17]. A common weed, avoiding acid soils and shady positions[1]." "Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to N. Africa, N. and W. Asia." [PFAF]
• Status: Exotic ^[E-flora-3]

Hazards

S. oleraceus; "Latex allergenic (VAD), possibly causing tenesmus (AHL). May cause liver problems in animals (ROE). As of July 2007, the FDA Poisonous Plant Database listed four titles alluding to toxicity of this species." [Duke MPLA] "Sonchus has laxative properties, and so should be eaten in moderation." ^[NHF]

"...no species is poisonous, so any with tender foliage can be eaten. Be aware that when growing in chemically fertilized soils, they may accumulate toxic amounts of nitrates." ^[UWP]

Species Mentioned

S. arvensis, S. asper, and S. oleraceus [EGWC]

Edible Uses

• Mature Plant: Sonchus Sp.; "The mature plant is also good, but only after it's been touched by frost. In warm weather, it's too bitter, although you can reduce the bitterness by boiling it in several changes of water. It's one of the last vegetables to die in late fall, and it takes more than one hard frost to do it in." ^[Wildman]
• Sap
• S. oleraceus; "The milky sap has been used as a chewing gum by the Maoris of New Zealand[183]." ^[PFAF] "Any part that you cut will bleed the milky sap. Anything the sap touches will stain brown. For appearances, you should trim off any cut stained parts just before using. The brown dye here is not as strong as the stain from cat's ear." [Kallas]
• Flowers
• S. oleraceus;"These become less chewy after fifteen or more minutes of boiling. They are at their best when used in soups and stews that require long boiling times." [Kallas]
• Tender Young Leaves & Stem tops
• S. asper; "raw or cooked[105, 144, 153, 161, 272]. They can be added to salads or used like spinach[183]. The young leaves have a mild agreeable flavour[217]. The stems should be bruised and the bitter-tasting milky juice washed out before eating or cooking them[183]. The stems have been peeled and eaten raw like celery[257]."^[PFAF]
• S. oleraceus; "Tender shoots and leaves cooked as vegetable; once cultivated as potherb, still cut as potherb" [Duke MPLA]
• Young Leaves
• "Most people find sow-thistle rather bitter in taste, similar to dandelion leaves. Some relish the bitter flavour, while others prefer to eliminate it by parboiling.... boiling should be brief-two or three minutes - and only a small amount of water should be used." ^[EGWC]
• "Native Americans rolled the leaves into small balls to crush the spines and then ate them." ^[UWP]
• S. arvensis; "Young leaves - raw or cooked[4, 5, 52, 54]. A slightly bitter taste, they can be added to salads or cooked like spinach[9, 183]. The leaves are rich in mineral salts and vitamin C[9], they contain about 47mg of vitamin C per 100g and 2% protein (dry weight)[173]. It might be best, though it is not necessary, to remove the marginal prickles[9]." ^[PFAF]
  
• S. oleraceus; "Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 9, 13, 54]. This species has the nicest tasting leaves of the genus[153], they usually have a mild agreeable flavour[217] especially in the spring[K]. They can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc[183]. The leaves contain about 30 - 40mg of vitamin C per 100g[173], 1.2% protein, 0.3% fat, 2.4% carbohydrate, 1.2% ash[179]. A zero moisture analysis is also available[218]. It might be best, though it is not essential, to remove the marginal prickles[9]." ^[PFAF] "Tender, young leaves boiled in salted water with chile and eaten as greens." ^{[Moerman NAEth]}
• Sonchus oleraceus; "Sow thistle leaves are only a fraction of the bitterness of dandelion leaves." "Cooking sow thistle reduces both the bitterness and the crunchiness found in some of the older leaves. Boiling young rapidly growing leaves for three to five minutes can remove the bitterness completely. Boiling them for ten minutes makes them much more tender." [Kallas]
• Young Shoots
• S. asper; "Young shoots roasted and eaten as a famine food." ^{[Moerman NAEth]}
• Stems
• S.asper; "Stalks peeled and eaten raw like celery." ^{[Moerman NAEth]}
• S. arvensis; "cooked like asparagus or rhubarb[12]." ^[PFAF]
  
• S. oleraceus; "Stems - cooked like asparagus or rhubarb[12]. They are best if the outer skin is removed first[183]." ^[PFAF]"Leaf stems are particularly tough, almost as tough as collard greens stems. So I typically discard the leaf stem below the leaf blade; that removes about one-third the length of the lea£" "As the stem gets older and more fibrous. you can always gather the still-tender tips containing the buds and one or two leaves. But once the flowers have opened, you've passed the time when the stem will still be usably tender." [Kallas]
• Root
• Sonchus Sp.; "The taproots of these upright European annual or perennial herbs are supposed to be edible in cold-weather seasons, but I rarely find substantial amounts of food on any thistle roots, and they usually don't taste especially good." ^[Wildman]
• "The roots of some species can be used as a coffee substitute. Prepare like Chicory Cicorium)" ^[UWP]
• S. arvensis; "Young root - cooked[12]. The roasted root is used as a coffee substitute[177, 183]." ^[PFAF]
  
• S. oleraceus; "Young root - cooked[12]. They are woody and not very acceptable[144]." ^[PFAF]"The taproot of the basal rosette works fine as a cooked vegetable. Rip off all fibrous roots attached to the tap roots you've gathered and boil them for five to ten minutes. They are good anywhere you would use potatoes." "Once the stalk is form- ing, the taproot gets fibrous and bitter. Even boiling for twenty minutes in (wo changes of water will not improve the flavor or texture of the older roots." [Kallas]
• Coffee: "The roots can be used for a coffee substitute like the dandelion root, although the result is inferior to dandelion root coffee. The roots need to be dug, washed, dried, and then roasted dark brown. Then they are ground and percolated into your coffee." [Nyerges]

Other Uses

• Insecticide
• S. arvensis; "The plant is said to have insecticidal properties[218]." ^[PFAF]
• Latex
• S. oleraceus; "The latex in the stem contains 0.14% rubber, but this is much too low for commercial exploitation[218]. " ^[PFAF]
• Wash
• "The famous herbalist. Culpeper, nutes that sow-thistle makes an excellent cosmetic wash for women to '"dear the skin and give it lustre". The Romans were said to have introduced sow-thistle to England;" ^[EGWC]
• Fodder
• "Sow-thistle seeds are a favourite food of goldfinches and other small songbirds. The leaves are an excellent. healthful forage for animals, especially swine and rabbits." ^[EGWC]
• S. oleraceus; "Plants used for hog feed." ^{[Moerman NAEth]}

Medicinal Uses

• Plant
• S. asper; "The plant is pounded and applied as a poultice to wounds and boils[240, 272]."^[PFAF] Heart Medicine; "Plant smoked or taken for palpitations." ^{[Moerman NAEth]}
• S. oleraceus; "The plant is emmenagogue and hepatic[61, 257]. An infusion has been used to bring on a tardy menstruation and to treat diarrhoea[257]." ^[PFAF] "Ecuadorians use crushed parboiled plant with lime juice and salt for amebiasis and hepatosis (BEJ)." [Duke MPLA] "Infusion of plant given to children for teething. " ^{[Moerman NAEth]}
• Leaves & Roots
  
• S. oleraceus; "An infusion of the leaves and roots is febrifuge and tonic[240]." ^[PFAF]
• Root
• S. arvensis; "A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of asthma, coughs and other chest complaints[222]."^[PFAF]
• S. oleraceus; " Haitians take decoction (10 g leaf/l water, or 20 g root/l) as stomachic (JFM)." "Tanganyikans use root as abortifacient and vermifuge (UPW)"[Duke MPLA]
• Gum
• S. oleraceus; "The gum has been used as a cure for the opium habit[257]." ^[PFAF] "Gum used as a cathartic." ^{[Moerman NAEth]}
• Leaves
• S. oleraceus; "The leaves are applied as a poultice to inflammatory swellings[4]." ^[PFAF]
  
• S. arvensis; "The leaves are used as a poultice and are said to have anti-inflammatory activity[4, 222]. An infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of caked breasts[257]. A tea made from the leaves is said to calm the nerves[222]." ^[PFAF]
• Latex
• S. oleraceus; "The latex in the sap is used in the treatment of warts[218]. It is also said to have anticancer activity[218]." ^[PFAF]
• Sonchus oleraceus; The bitter white sap of the stems and leaves has been used to formulate an agent to combat opium addiction. The work involved to do this, however, hardly justifies the results. ^[Nyerges]
• Juice
• S. oleraceus; "The stem juice is a powerful hydrogogue and cathartic, it should be used with great caution since it can cause colic and tenesmus[218]." ^[PFAF]
• Unspecified Parts
• S. asper; "Compound infusion given to babies "who cry until they hold their breath."" ^{[Moerman NAEth]}

Pharmacology

S. oleraceus; "Abortifacient (f; UPW); Analgesic (f; MPG); Antibilious (f; JFM); Antiinflammatory (f; FAH; MPG); Antioxidant (1; X14630594; X15800389); Antiradicular (1; X14630594); Antisarcomic (1; MPG; WOI); Antiseptic (f; MPG); Antispasmodic (f; EGG; JFM; MPG); Antitumor (1; MPG; WOI); Antiulcer (f; MPG); Aperitive (f; JFM); Carminative (f; EGG; JFM; MPG); Cathartic (f; KAB; WBB); Cholagogue (f; MPG); CNS-Sedative (f; MPG); Collyrium (f; WBB); Depurative (f; JFM; MPG); Digestive (f; FAH); Diuretic (f; GHA); Emmenagogue (f; DEM; FAH); Emollient (f; AHL; ROE); Febrifuge (f; DEP; KAB); Fungicide (f; EGG); Hepatotonic (f; FAH; MPG); Hydragogue (f; NAD); Lactagogue (f; JFM; NAD; ROE; WOI); Laxative (f; GHA; JFM); Litholytic (f; FAH); Narcotic (f; WOI); Neurotonic (f; JFM); Orexigenic (f; JFM); Purgative (f; ROE); Refrigerant (f; JFM); Sedative (f; KAB); Stomachic (f; EGG; JFM; MPG); Tonic (f; GHA; KAB); Vermifuge (f; FAH; WBB)." [Duke MPLA]

Nutritional Info

S. oleraceus; "Nutritionally, sow thistle is higher in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and manganese than any of our domesticated greens. In fact, it has the highest source of manganese of any of the foods in our two charts. It has amounts of copper and iron, and average amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, and fiber." [Kallas] A weed in cultivated lands, introduced from Europe. Now found over most of the cultivated regions of the world. Used in Great Britain and Germany as a potherb. Said to be "exceedingly wholesome." ^[EWP,1962]

Cultivation

Harvesting: Sonchus oleraceus "Saw thistle is an annual. The leaves and roots are best gathered in the spring before the plant has flowered." ^[Nyerges]

S. asper; "Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. This plant has been cultivated for its edible leaves by the Maoris in New Zealand[153]." ^[PFAF]

S. arvensis; "This species has been cultivated for its edible leaves by the Maoris of New Zealand, in Indonesia there are improved varieties selected for their edible leaves[153, 183]. A good companion for onions, tomatoes, corn as well as the cucumber and squash family[20]." ^[PFAF]

References

• [E-flora]
  • [1] Sonchus arvensis, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Sonchus%20arvensis&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed Nov 14, 2016
  • [2] Sonchus asper, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Sonchus%20asper&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed Nov 14, 2016
  • [3] Sonchus oleraceus, http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Sonchus%20oleraceus&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed Nov 14, 2016
• Jepson - 2013. Sonchus, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=614, accessed on Jan 22 2015
• PFAF
• Sonchus arvensis, https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Sonchus+arvensis, Accessed May 29, 2019
• Sonchus asper, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Sonchus+asper, Accessed May 29, 2019
• Sonchus oleraceus, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Sonchus+oleraceus, Accessed May 29, 2019