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Sonchus asper (L.) Hill

Overview
General Information
ID Info
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Aperçu
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Family :

Famille :

Asteraceae

Synonym(s) :

Synonyme(s) :

Sonchus oleraceus L. var. asper L. (FNA 1993+; USDA-ARS 2023)

Common Name(s) :

Nom(s) commun(s) :

Spiny annual sow-thistle

(English) (Darbyshire 2003)
Laiteron rude (French) (FNA 1993+; Darbyshire 2003; Wiersema & León 2016)
Spiny sow thistle (English) (USDA-ARS; Wiersema & León 2016)
Hua ye dian ku cai花叶滇苦菜 (Chinese) (FOC 1994+)
Raue Gänsedistel (German) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)
Serralha-comum (Portuguese) (Wiersema & León 2016; USDA-ARS 2023)
Cardo espinoso (Spanish) (CABI 2023)

Spiny annual sow thistle (Sonchus asper) achenes

  • Spiny annual sow thistle (Sonchus asper) achenes

  • Spiny annual sow thistle (Sonchus asper) achenes

  • Spiny annual sow thistle (Sonchus asper) achene

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Overview

Aperçu

Regulation :

Remarques Réglementation:

    Regulation Notes:

    Distribution :

    Répartition :

    Sonchus asper is native in Europe, Asia, and Africa; introduced into East and Southeast Asia, Australia, and North America (Darbyshire 2003; USDA-ARS 2022). It is found across the United States and Canada except for Nunavut (Hutchinson et al. 1984; Brouillet et al. 2010+; USDA-NRCS 2022).

    Habitat and Crop Association :

    Habitat et Cultures Associées :

    S. asper is a pioneer species adapted to well-drained, disturbed soils, found in cultivated land, roadsides, logged areas, overgrazed pastures and coastal habitats (Hutchinson et al 1984; Darbyshire et al 2003).

    Sonchus asper is well-adapted to anthropogenic (man-made) conditions, with numerous fruits that germinate readily in disturbed soils, and has established beyond its origins in the Mediterranean with the spread of agriculture worldwide (Lewin 1948; Hutchinson et al. 1984).

    This species is a weed of 26 crops in 64 countries, often associated with Triticum aestivum subsp. aestivum (wheat), Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare (barley), Medicago sativa subsp. sativa (alfalfa), Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (beet), Brassica napus subsp. napus (oilseed rape), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), pastures, orchards, plant nurseries, vegetables and vineyards (Holm et al. 1997).

    Economic Use, cultivation area, and Weed Association :

    Utilisation économique, zone de culture et association de mauvaises herbes :

    The young plants of Sonchus species were consumed in Europe since ancient times (Lewin 1948).

    Duration of Life Cycle :

    Durée du cycle vital:

    Annual or biennial

    Dispersal Unit Type :

    Type d’unité de dispersion :

    Achene

    General Information

    RENSEIGNEMENTS GÉNÉRAUX

    The height of S. asper flowering stems, flat, light seeds and pappus allow for widespread achene dispersal by wind (Hutchinson et al 1984). The pappus may adhere to animal fur, bird feathers, or be ingested by animals and carried further away from the parent plant (Hutchinson et al 1984).

    S. asper plants produce a large number of achenes, the average number of flower heads per plant was estimated at 105, with an average of 197.5 achenes per head, with a total of 23 000 to 26 000 achenes per plant (Lewin 1948; Hutchinson et al. 1984). A seed bank of 3.3 million seeds per hectare in grassland and 4.2 million in cultivated land have been estimated (Holm et al. 1997). The half-life (time to when a value is reduced by half) of achene viability is 2-3 years in dry storage, and 1 year in field conditions (Hutchinson et al 1984).

    Some authors have divided S. asper into subspecies based on morphological differences in the plants and achenes. S. asper subsp. asper are described as annual species with leafy stems, leaves less spiny and achenes with smooth edges (FNA 1993+). S. asper subsp. glaucescens are biennial species with most leaves around the base of the plant, leaves stiff and densely prickly, achenes with prominently curved and ciliate edges (FNA 1993+).

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    Identification

    Identification

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    • Achene

      Size

      • Achene length*: 1.8-2.9 mm; width: 0.8-1.2 mm
      *Note: minimum and maximum of 10 achenes in a normal range of this species using image measurement (ISMA 2020)

      Achene size from literature:
      • length: 2.5 mm; width: 1 mm (Lewin 1948)
      • length: 2.5 mm; width: 1.5 mm (Hutchinson et al. 1984)
      • length: 2–3 mm (FNA 1993+)
      • length: 2-3 mm; width: 1 mm (Holm et al. 1997)

      Pappus length from literature :
      • 8 mm (Hutchinson et al. 1984)
      • 6 – 9 mm (FNA 1993+)
      • 1 cm (Holm et al. 1997)

      Shape

      • Achene is oval, oblong or egg-shaped, flattened dorsoventrally
      • Pappus consists of both thin, flexible hairs and rigid hairs
      • Bases of pappus hairs are fused into a ring that is generally removed during processing

      Surface Texture

      • Achene with generally 3, but up to 5 longitudinal ridges on surface, surface smooth between the ridges
      • Small prickles along the edge of the achene are visible under 30x magnification
      • Pappus consists of both thin, flexible hairs and rigid hairs

      Colour

      • Achene is straw coloured, light brown, or brown
      • Pappus is white

      Spiny annual sow thistle (Sonchus asper) achenes

    <
    >

    • Seed

      Size

      • Seed similar to achene size

      Shape

      • Seed is oval shaped, flat, with one end pointed

      Surface Texture

      • Seed has a smooth texture

      Colour

      • Seed is a shiny greyish yellow colour

      Other Features

      • Seed coat is translucent, adheres to the seed
    <
    >

    • Embryo

      Size

      • Embryo fills the seed

      Shape

      • Embryo is spatulate shaped (Martin 1946)

      Endosperm

      • Endosperm absent, nutritive tissue stored in the cotyledons

      Other Features

      • Cotyledons are soft-textured
      • Embryo in an axial position

    Identification Tips

    CONSEILS POUR L’IDENTIFICATION

    The achenes of similar species of Sonchus can be distinguished by:

    Sonchus arvensis achenes:
    • Oblong shaped
    • Dark brown coloured
    • Surface with both longitudinal ribs and pronounced transverse ridges

    S. oleraceus achenes:
    • Teardrop shaped
    • Brown coloured
    • Surface with transverse ridges

    S. asper achenes:
    • Oval, egg-shaped or oblong
    • Straw yellow or brown coloured
    • Surface with longitudinal ridges, smooth between the ridges
    • Small prickles at achene edge

    Spiny annual sow thistle (Sonchus asper) achene

    Additional Botany Information

    AUTRES RENSEIGNEMENTS BOTANIQUES

    Flowers/Inflorescence

    • Flower heads are composed entirely of yellow ray florets (the petals are fused into one long, strap-shaped petal)
    • Flower head diameter: 1.2 – 2.5 cm (Hutchinson et al. 1984; Holm et al. 1997)
    • 25-150 florets per flower head (Hutchinson et al. 1984)
    • Involucral bracts with glandular hairs, glands yellow or purplish (Hutchinson et al. 1984)

    Vegetative Features

    • Stems 20-150 cm tall, hollow, often reddish coloured (Hutchinson et al. 1984)
    • Leaf length: 5 – 15 cm, margins wavy and spiny (Hutchinson et al. 1984)
    • Upper surface of leaf is dark glossy green, lower surface green, can be purplish (Hutchinson et al. 1984; Holm et al. 1997)
    • Leaf base divided and clasps the stem; base lobes rounded and spiny (Hutchinson et al. 1984; FNA 1993+)
    • Sonchus asper does not regenerate from root fragments (Hutchinson et al. 1984)

    Similar Species

    ESPÈCES SEMBLABLES

    Similar species are based on a study of seed morphology of various species, and those with similar dispersal units are identified. The study is limited by physical specimen and literature availability at the time of examination, and possibly impacted by the subjectivity of the authors based on their knowledge and experience. Providing similar species information for seed identification is to make users aware of similarities that could possibly result in misidentification.

    Sonchus arvensis L.

    S. arvensis is a widespread, perennial weed that can reproduce by both seed and root fragments. Achenes of S. arvensis are a similar size or larger (length*: 2.2-3.8 mm; width: 0.7-1.5 mm), oblong shaped, generally dark brown coloured with longitudinal ribs and pronounced transverse ridges compared to S. asper.

    Sonchus oleraceus L.

    S. oleraceus is a widespread, annual weed with a distribution similar to S. asper, but generally prefers warmer and mesic habitats (Hutchinson et al. 1984). The achenes are a similar size (length*: 2.4 – 3.4 mm; width: 0.7 – 1.2 mm), teardrop shaped, brown coloured with transverse ridges compared to the more smooth S. asper achenes. S. asper and S. oleraceus can produce sterile hybrids with intermediate features (Barber 1941).

    *Note: minimum and maximum of 10 achenes in a normal range of this species using image measurement (ISMA 2020)

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    Reference(s)

    Référence(s)

    Barber, H.N. 1941. Spontaneous Hybrids between Sonchus asper and S. oleraceus. Annals of Botany 18: 375-377.

    Brouillet, L., Coursol, F., Meades, S. J., Favreau, M., Anions, M., Bélisle, P. and Desmet, P. 2010+. VASCAN, the database of vascular plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/ Accessed November 30, 2022.

    Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). 2022. Invasive Species Compendium, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/journal/cabicompendium Accessed November 30, 2022.

    Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). 2023. Invasive Species Compendium, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/journal/cabicompendium Accessed November 15, 2023.

    Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch. Ottawa, ON.

    Flora of China (FOC) 1994+. Sonchus asper Vol. 20-21 Pages 240-242 (English edition). http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200024556 Accessed November 15, 2023.

    Flora of North America (FNA) Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. New York and Oxford. http://beta.floranorthamerica.org. Accessed November 30, 2022.

    Holm, L., Doll, J., Holm, E., Pancho, J. and Herberger, J. 1997. World Weeds: Natural Histories and Distribution. John Wiley & Sons. 1129 pp.

    Hutchinson, I., Colosi, J., and Lewin, R. A. 1984. The biology of Canadian weeds. 63. Sonchus asper (L.) Hill and S. oleraceus L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 64:731-744.

    International Seed Morphology Association (ISMA). 2020. Method for Seed Size Measurement. Version 1.0. ISMA Publication Guide.

    Lewin, R.A. 1948. Biological flora of the British Isles: Sonchus L. (S. oleraceus L. and S. asper (L.) Hill) Journal of Ecology 36: 203-223.

    Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. The American Midland Naturalist 36: 513-660.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2022. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch Accessed November 30, 2022.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS). 2023. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch Accessed November 15, 2023.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 2022. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA. http://plants.usda.gov Accessed November 30, 2022.

    Wiersema, John, H. and Blanca León. 2016. World Economic Plants. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.

    Author(s)

    AUTEUR(S)

    Jennifer Neudorf, Angela Salzl, Ruojing Wang

    Canadian Food Inspection Agency

     

    contactus@idseed.org

    Last updated
    on 2023-03-27

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