Sonchus asper, (L.) Hill

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 327

1. S. asper (L.) Hill , Herb. Brit. 1: 47 (1769).

Annual or biennial, glabrous, but base of capitula and upper part of stem and peduncles often glandular-hairy; stem 10-120(-200) cm, sometimes branched. Leaves glabrous, the lower spathulate, entire to pinnatifid, the upper entire to pinnatisect, with triangular-ovate to linear, dentate lobes and rounded, sometimes dentate auricles. Involucral bracts 35-45. Ligules shorter than corolla-tube. Achenes 2-3 x 1 mm, strongly compressed and more or less winged, elliptical to broadly oblanceolate, smooth between the ribs, the margins and ribs often with recurved spinules. Pappus 6-9 mm, more or less deciduous. Cultivated ground and waste places. Almost throughout Europe. All except Fa Is Sb.