How do you identify a sow thistle?
Common sow thistle has hollow stems that exude latex if damaged. It has a short taproot, and deeply lobed leaves. It can be distinguished from Sonchus asper and Sonchus hydrophilus in that they both have stiff and leathery leaves, mostly smooth achenes (fruit) with ribs that are rough to the touch or with hairs.
Can you eat smooth sow thistle?
There are many species of Sonchus (Sonchus spp.) – all are edible and most are indistinguishable in appearance – but the two most commonly used for food and medicine are smooth sowthistle (S. oleraceus) and prickly sowthistle (S. asper).
Is milk thistle the same as sow thistle?
Sowthistle will always have several flowers per stalk; Another common name for the plant is milk thistle because of the white sap, while the sowthistle’s name is due to the tradition of giving the plant to female pigs (sows) when they are lactating a new litter of piglets.
What does perennial sow thistle look like?
Despite the name, Perennial sowthistle resembles dandelions more than it does true thistles. Perennial sowthistle usually grows 2 to 4 feet high and has an extensive root system that grows up to 10 feet deep and can spread more than 6 feet in one growing season. It has erect, hollow stems with bitter, milky juice.
Is sow thistle bad?
Sowthistle is a serious problem in agricultural areas because it has been found to reduce crop yield greatly (Royer and Dickinson 1999), and it also reduces the growth of native plants in a variety of settings.
Is sow thistle good for wildlife?
There are two thistles to trouble gardeners and farmers: the purple-flowered, spiny-leaved Creeping Thistle, and the yellow-flowered Sow Thistle. Both have strong root systems, and set seed surprisingly quickly. But both have an important role in supporting wildlife.
Is Sow Thistle bad?
Is Sow Thistle good for wildlife?
How do you get rid of sow thistles?
How to Get Rid of Thistle
- Plant prolifically. Thistle seedlings germinate in empty, unshaded soil. Pulling them may leave a portion of root behind, which will re-sprout in time.
- Cover it. Mulch eliminates thistle seed germination and smothers new plants.
- Snip smart. In lawns, snip small thistle at the soil level.
What is sow thistle good for?
Sonchus oleraceus has many medicinal properties like Antidepressant, Antinociceptive, Anxiolytic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antitumor, Antimalarial, blood purifier, hepatic, sedative, febrifuge, tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Anticancer etc. Stems and leaves are also used in cooking by local peoples.
What kills spiny sow thistle?
glyphosate
A glyphosate based herbicide (Round-Up®, etc.) should kill sow thistle in a single application, and may be necessary for the perennial species.
Is there such a thing as a smooth sow thistle?
The Smooth Sow-thistle, Sonchus oleraceus, is similar but its leaves are generally greyer and without sharp spines. Smooth Sow-thistle and Common Sow-thistle often hybridise, resulting in plants with slightly prickly leaves.
How big does a prickly sow thistle get?
An annual plant with red glandular stem hairs and growing to just over a metre in height, Prickly Sow-thistle has reddish stems and spiny dark-green leaves with rounded basal lobes. The compound yellow flowerheads have Dandelion-like yellow flowers 2 to 2.5cm across (when fully open) that are borne in lax clusters.
Where do sow thistles grow in North America?
Habitat: This plant will grow almost everywhere. It likes cracks in driveways, roadsides, fields, meadows, and gravel banks. The sow thistle was introduced to North America from Europe. Edible parts: The leaves, flowers and roots are edible.
What’s the difference between annual sow thistle and annual Dandelion?
Perennial sow thistle flowers are larger and resemble the dandelion. Both plants are edible. Annual sow thistle tends to be less prickly.