Field sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis, Sp. Pl.: 793 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 793 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sonchus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Siberia and Caucasus

Description

Field sow thistle, scientifically known as Sonchus arvensis, is a noteworthy perennial herb that belongs to the diverse Asteraceae family. Originally described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum,” published in 1753, this hardy plant is native to regions extending from Europe through Siberia to the Caucasus.

Distinguished by its erect, hollow stems that can reach heights of up to 1.5 meters, Field sow thistle is easily recognizable. The foliage of this plant is particularly striking, with large, spiny leaves that are deeply lobed and often clasp around the stem. The basal leaves tend to form a rosette at the base, tapering as they ascend the stalk.

The plant’s inflorescences are what truly capture the eye. From mid-summer to early autumn, Sonchus arvensis produces clusters of bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers. These composite flowers boast numerous small florets, which are highly attractive to pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Following the flowering period, the plant forms fluffy, wind-dispersed seeds that bear a resemblance to those of the common dandelion, facilitating its widespread distribution.

Field sow thistle thrives in a range of environments, often favoring disturbed soils, such as those found in agricultural lands, roadsides, and waste areas. Its robust nature allows it to quickly colonize new habitats, sometimes to the detriment of native vegetation. As a result, it is sometimes regarded as a weed in certain contexts, requiring management to control its spread in agricultural settings.

Despite its weedy tendencies, Sonchus arvensis has several redeeming qualities. Historically, parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine and as forage for livestock. Its young leaves are even edible for humans and can be consumed as a leafy green, albeit with some preparation to mitigate their bitter taste.

In summary, Field sow thistle is a resilient and adaptable plant with a rich history and a broad geographical range. Recognized for its vibrant yellow flowers and spiny foliage, it plays a complex role in its ecosystems, acting both as a beneficial species for pollinators and a challenging weed for agriculture.

Common Names

Deu: acker-gänsedistel, gewöhnliche acker-gänsedistel
Dan: ager-svinemælk
Eng: corn sow thistle, corn sow-thistle, creeping sowthistle, field sow thistle, field sow-thistle, field sowthistle, perennial sow thistle, perennial sow-thistle, perennial sowthistle, sowthistle
Swe: fettistel, mjölktistel, åkermolke
Ita: grespino dei campi
Hin: gubbi, pili dudhi
Fra: laiteron des champs
Pol: mlecz polny
Fin: peltovalvatti
Est: põld-piimohakas
Lav: tīruma mīkstpiene
Nld: akkermelkdistel, akkermelkdistel var. arvensis
Nor: bløt-tistel, dill, dille, åkerdylle
Rus: осот полевой
Bul: полски кострец
Ron: сусай де-кымп
Hye: կաթնբեկ դաշտային
Cym: llaeth ysgallen yr âr, llaethysgallen y tir âr, llaethysgallen yr ŷd, moch ysgallen yr âr, ysgallen yr ŷd
En: Field sow thistle, Perennial sow thistle, Corn sow thistle, Field sowthistle, Perennial sowthistle, Field Sow-Thistle, Perennial Sow-thistle, Corn sow-thistle, Creeping sowthistle, Sowthistle, Field Milk-thistle
Ar: تفاف بستاني
Hy: Իշամառոլ դաշտային, Կաթնբեկ դաշտային
Be: Асот палявы
Bn: বন পালং
Bg: Полски кострец
Ca: Lletsó arvense
Zh: Shan-Ku-Mai, Ye-Ku-Mai, 苦苣菜
Cs: Mléč rolní
Da: Ager-Svinemælk
Nl: Akkermelkdistel, Akkermelkdistel var. arvensis, Zeemelkdistel
Et: Põld-piimohakas
Fi: Peltovalvatti
Fr: Laiteron des champs
De: Gewöhnliche Acker-Gänsedistel, Acker-Gänseidistel, Acker-Gänsedistel
Hi: Gubbi, Pili dudhi
Id: Daun Tempuyung
Ga: Bleachtán léana
It: Grespino dei campi
Jv: Tempuyung
Lv: Tīruma mīkstpiene
Lt: Dirvinė pienė
No: Åkerdylle, Bløt-tistel, Dill, Dille
Os: Игæрхос
Fa: شیرتیغک ارونسیس
Pl: Mlecz polny
Pt-br: Serralha
Ro: Susai, Сусай де-кымп
Ru: Осот полевой
Sk: Mlieč roľný
Es: Cerraja
Su: Tempuyung
Sv: Åkermolke, Fettistel, Mjölktistel
Zh-tw: 苦苣菜
Uk: Жовтий осот польовий
Cy: Llaethysgallen y tir âr, Llaeth Ysgallen yr Âr, Llaethysgallen yr Ŷd, Moch Ysgallen yr Âr, Ysgallen yr Ŷd

Synonyms

• Sonchus vulgaris subsp. arvensis ((L.) Rouy)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Chita (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Oman (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Northwest Territorie (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Sep 10, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 14, 2021 by ICG (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by 🐞Hélène🐦 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by 🐞Hélène🐦 (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2018 by Susana López (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 20, 2021 by cirse (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2020 by Hubert Ottens (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by 🐞Hélène🐦 (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 28, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2021 by наталия (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by 🐞Hélène🐦 (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Željko Smešnjak (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2020 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 18, 2021 by Jani Zadrgal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 17, 2018 by dredodo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2022 by Marie-Claude Darnajou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2021 by cirse (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2021 by 🐞Hélène🐦 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 30, 2021 by Béatrice Lagarrigue (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 23, 2020 by Ines Guilbaud (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 20, 2020 by Tyhjä Luut (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2020 by André van Linn (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:250029-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3105813)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sonchus arvensis L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 6

Soil salinity: 1