common sow-thistle

Sonchus oleraceus

Member of sow thistles (genus Sonchus)
yellow dandelion-like flowers
lettuce, chicory, dandelion, and salsify tribe (tribe Cichorieae)
thistles
sunflower family (family Asteraceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
yellow in flowering plants

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• annual
• stem distally branched [?], often proximally branched [this part is clear]
• stem stout
• proximal clasping lobes of cauline leaves acute, not curled or coiled
• leaf blades nearly all lobed [possibly with small teeth], lobes variable in width [narrow lobes may look like sharp teeth], terminal lobe often widely arrowhead-shaped
• involucre 10–13 mm
• petal ± = corolla tube
• fruit flat, 2–4-ribbed [per side?] and cross-wrinkled

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Chris’s observations: 7 (2 are research grade)

Locations:

• Big Basin SP
• Coal Creek OSP
• Kauai, HI
• Russian Ridge OSP
• San Pedro Valley CP
• Santa Teresa CP
• Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area

Months:

• Apr.: 1
• May: 2
• Jun.: 1
• Jul.: 2
• Aug.: 0
• Sep.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – CalPhotos – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora