Sonchus oleraceus is a species of flowering plant in the tribe Cichorieae of the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and Western Asia. It has many common names including common sowthistle, sow thistle, smooth sow thistle, annual sow … 展开

Sonchus oleraceus has a variety of uses in herbalism. It also has been ascribed medicinal qualities similar to dandelion and succory. … 展开

This annual plant has a hollow, upright stem up to 30 to 100 centimetres (12 to 39 in) high. It prefers full sun, and can tolerate most soil conditions. The flowers are hermaphroditic, … 展开

Leaves are eaten as salad greens or cooked like spinach. This is one of the species used in Chinese cuisine as kŭcài (苦菜; lit. bitter vegetable). The younger leaves are less bitter and … 展开

• Media related to Sonchus oleraceus at Wikimedia Commons
• Tropicos.org: photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden
• Tropicos.org: line drawing from Flora of Panama 展开