Many insects feed on the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, while some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds. A pesky weed to some, a treasure trove of medicinal remedies for others, dandelion's use … The roots, shoots and young leaves of milk thistle (Silibum marianum) are edible and the plant has some medicinal uses. Also unlike bull thistle stem fibers, sow thistle fibers make poor cordage. This hardy weed grows up to five feet in height and spreads outwards, occupying areas that are needed by native plants”. The plant body looks a lot like bull thistle but sow thistle has a number of small, yellow flowers rather than one bulbous purple or tan flower. Sow Thistle vs. Dandelion Both are basal rosettes. Earlier in the plant’s life it will make a kind of basal rosette, which is prior to flowering or putting out seeds, which makes it difficult at first to distinguish between the Dandelion, Wild Lettuce, and Sow Thistle. It is native to Europe and western Asia. Seedlings of the two species ( Sonchus asper & Sonchus oleraceus) are practically indistinguishable, and may be difficult to tell apart even at spray … Dandelions in Finland are known by the collective name Taraxacum officinale, but they should really be spoken about in plural form because they are so diverse, comprised of about 500 micro-species in Finland alone. Without that piece of information, it could be a primula for all we know. Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand, Site map They can grow virtually anywhere from cultivated ground, all kinds of soil and even cracks in concrete. Glossy, dark green leaves that look slightly spiky. Removing perennial sow-thistle is tedious and time-consuming. Thistle Root. Milk Thistle Protects Your Liver. The entire plant must be pulled, and even a small root fragment can regenerate as a new plant. Share on Pinterest. Sow thistle has no poisonous look-alikes. To identify dandelion by leaf and stem ONLY, Samuel Thayer wrote the following key that differentiates four different plant greens that can be offered to wildlife patients, cat’s ear (Hypochareis radicata), wild lettuce ( Lactuca spp. Common names- Sow Thistle/ Milk Thistle Botanical name- Sonchus oleraceus Identifying features- Yellow, dandelion-like flower. This is a nutritious plant that contains several minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc) and vitamins ( A, B1, B2, B3, B6, & C). Lactuca virosa (great or greater prickly lettuce) and Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce) have similar medicinal properties. Sonchus oleraceus, with many common names including common sowthistle, sow thistle, smooth sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, milk thistle, soft thistle, or swinies, is a plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family. Initial animal research conducted in 2016 found that silymarin caused weight … Thistles will resprout readily if cut down, so it’s best to dig the whole plant up by the root. top The root is edible, and according to one source, it tastes “like burdock root only better.”While burdock stalks are delicious, I really can’t stand burdock root, and I think it tastes like bitter dirt.Thus, I’m not excited about cooking up a thistle root. Reproducing by seed and from buds on widely spreading, creamy white, brittle, underground roots. The flowers are similar to the ones of dandelion but they do not grow as single flowers, and they are smaller. If we knew whether the sap is clear or opaque white, that would at least place it in (or out) of the lettuce/sow thistle/dandelion group. This one can easily be mistaken for a dandelion when it’s young, but you’ll never make that mistake once the plant matures. Issue Date: Sept 17, 2015 Perennial Sowthistle Weed versus Weed Prickly Lettuce (Sonchus arvensis) (Lactuca serriola) I would say it has two main look alikes- either it's close relative, the dandelion, but the difference is that dandelion's leaves all grow flat along the ground, and only have one flower per plant while sow thistle … Control. A strain of lettuce that looks like a cross between a dandelion and a thistle is actually an age-old painkiller. Seeds are small, around 0.1 inches long with ridges on each side. Curtail M provides the best in-crop, systemic action with trusted Group 4 chemistry to kill the roots of Canada thistle and other troublesome perennial weeds such as sow thistle and dandelion. The leaves are also great to use as an antioxidant. Native thistle provide important habitat and food sources for native fauna. Milk thistle is often promoted for its liver … Both dandelion and milk thistle are considered herbs for the liver. Both are equally edible and tasty. Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa), also known as “poor man’s opium” or “Lettuce Opium”, has been around for centuries. The leaves change with time, from "chicory" style to a more complex design. Can grow up to 1.5 metres Commonly confused with- Dandelion/ Thistle Ease of control- Selective herbicides Speedwell However, it can also become abundant in flood plain areas and on wetlands. Wild Lettuce is also known as opium lettuce, bitter lettuce, wild opium, horse thistle, China lettuce and prickly lettuce. With two active ingredients, Curtail M translocates deep down to the extensive thistle roots for effective above- and below-ground control. Stems are erect, unbranched except in the flowers, lined or weakly grooved, and hairless below the flowers. However, once the plant sends up a stalk and begins to flower and put off seed, it makes for a quick and easy identification. Some authorities believe that populations of Clammy Sow-thistle (Sochus tenerrimus) found in Australia are actually one of these forms of Common Sow-thistle.Common Sow-thistle belongs to a group of mainly yellow-flowered daisies in the Tribe Lactuceae. The nectar and pollen of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. If you need help with plant identification, please contact your county noxious weed coordinator Although grazing animals (and butterflies) actually prefer the Sonchus to grass farmers rant about the plant because it’s a weed amongst their crop. Another dandelion look-similar is the sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus. Sow thistles have a leaf floret similar to the one of dandelion on the base, but it grows in height later. Individual flowers are surrounded by green bracts with black tips. The plant has often been described as having a ‘ragged' or ‘scraggly' appearance. As for the sow thistle’s botanical name: Sonchus is the ancient Greek name for the plant and means “hollow” referring to the plant’s hollow stem, a point of identification. A problematic plant for agriculture, perennial sow-thistle tends to take over fields and reduce crop yield. Flowering can occur throughout the year. Burdock preparations are widely used in alternative medicine preparations as a laxative and to treat skin conditions. Sonchus asper, the prickly sow-thistle, rough milk thistle, spiny sowthistle, sharp-fringed sow thistle, or spiny-leaved sow thistle, is a widespread plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family. Tends to be so common, well-known and vigorously hated as dandelion silymarin caused weight … Sow-thistle. Look slightly spiky 've produced any flower buds roots, shoots and young of... Down, so it ’ s young, like the photo above, you can eat it like sow thistle vs dandelion. 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