Flower and leaves. Australian Plant Image Index, photo: Murray Fagg, south of Bermagui, NSW

Flower. Australian Plant Image Index, photo: Murray Fagg, south of Bermagui, NSW

Flowering plant. Australian Plant Image Index, photo: Murray Fagg, south of Bermagui, NSW

Plant with flower buds. Photo: Greg Steenbeeke, Berrar, NSW

Common Name

Native Sowthistle

Family

Asteraceae

Notes

Annual, biennial, or possibly perennial forb to 1.2m tall. Leaves basal and alternating up the stems. Basal leaves 5-30cm long, 10-30mm wide, flat, hairless, margins toothed, shallowly lobed to entire. Stem leaves with basal lobes appressed to the stems, 10-40cm long, 20-60mm wide, flat, hairless, lobed, toothed, with pointed tips. Flowers yellow, with many 'petals'. Flower heads in open groups at the tops of the stems.

Differs from Sonchus asper and Sonchus oleraceus in that the leaf margins are toothed and not spiny.

eFloraSA fact sheet:  http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&name=Sonchus_hydrophilus