Sea Sowthistle
Sonchus maritimus L.
Sonchus maritimus L., commonly known as Sea Sowthistle, is a rhizomatous perennial herb in the Asteraceae family. It is native to regions including Syria, Iraq, Italy, Spain, and others. The plant features a stem 15-60 cm tall, with glabrous lower leaves and upper leaves that are tomentose when young. Involucral bracts number approximately 27, and the achenes are oblong to elliptical with a wide margin. The pappus is 5.5-9 mm long and typically deciduous. Chromosome number is 2n=18.
Description
Sonchus maritimus is a perennial herb characterized by a rhizomatous growth form. The stem is 15-60 cm tall and sparsely branched. Lower leaves are linear, glabrous, and entire to dentate, while upper leaves are linear to oblong, with denticulate margins and tomentose undersides when young. Auricles are rounded and often dentate. The base of the capitula and upper part of the peduncles are white-tomentose and eglandular. Ligules are significantly longer than the corolla-tube. Achenes measure 2.2-3 x 1-1.6 mm, with a weakly rugose or smooth surface between ribs. The pappus is 5.5-9 mm long and usually deciduous. Chromosome count is 2n=18.
Other common names
Sea Sowthistle
Distribution
Syria · Kriti · Iraq · Tunisia · Afghanistan · Italy · Montenegro · Algeria · Albania · Spain · Pakistan · Turkmenistan · Iran · Morocco · France · Libya · Corse · Slovenia · Saudi Arabia · Israel · Canary Is. · Egypt · Baleares · Greece · Sicilia · Portugal · Jordan · Sardegna · Croatia · DK
Synonyms
Sonchus pauciflorusSonchus littoralisSonchus maritimus var. maritimusSonchus baburiSonchus maritimus subsp. cartilagineusSonchoseris maritimaSonchus transcaspicusSonchus otaviensisSonchus vulgaris subsp. maritimusSonchus hieracioidesSonchus maritimus var. canescensSonchus arvensis subsp. maritimusSonchus angustifoliusSonchus decorusSonchus balthicusSonchus maritimus var. angustifoliusSonchus arvensis var. glaberrimusSonchus arvensis var. decorusSonchus vulgaris var. angustifoliusSonchus vulgaris var. normalisSonchus maritimus var. latifoliusSonchus vulgaris var. latifoliusSonchus vulgaris var. decorus
