Sow thistle, Corn Sow Thistle
Sonchus arvensis

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A coarse spiny herb. It grows 25-115 cm high. The lower leaves have backward pointing lobes. They are prickly along the edge. The leaves are 10-25 cm long. The upper leaves have less lobes and do not have leaf stalks. The flowers are yellow disks. Several flower heads occur together in open clusters. The fruit is a dry flattened achene.

There are about 60 Sonchus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. It grows in waste places and fields and along roadsides. In Indonesia it grows between 50 and 650 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level. It grows in swampy meadows.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Europe (country/location of origin), Fiji, Guatemala, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, South Africa, South America, Tajikistan, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves, gathered before the flowers appear, can be added to salads or boiled for 5-10 minutes. They are also fried. The roots are used as a substitute for coffee.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, roots - coffee

How it is grown

It can grow and spread by seed and creeping roots.

Its other names

Local names

Banpalang, Birbarangon, Cerraja arvense, Dindle, Huerca, Huring najom puru, Jalynniar, Jangli tamaku, Ki-lan-jiat, Kostrets, Kostriika, Niu she tou, Perennial Sowthistle, Poi botiazgan, Sahadevi bari, Suryafuli, Tempuyung, Tok ruru ao, Yerba del campo

Synonyms

Sonchus exaltatus Wallr.; and several others