SONCHUS ASPER subsp. GLAUCESCENS

Most Aegean plants are referable to subsp. glaucescens (Jord.) Ball; records of

subsp. asper (differing rather vaguely in quantitative characters) are somewhat

dubious and fall within the geographical range of subsp. glaucescens. 1)

1) "Atlas of the Aegean Flora" Book1, Arne Strid 2016.

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Sonchus glaucescens.

Meaning:- Sonchus (Gr) Thistle.

Glaucescens (L) Developing a white greyish bloom, glaucous.

General description:- Erect annual or biennial.

Stem:-

1) 20-70(-120) cm, sparingly branched, glabrous or often glandular-pubescent

above.

Leaves:-

1) Cauline, with large rounded auricles, subentire to runcinate-pinnatifid with large

terminal lobe, softly spinulose-dentate.

Flowers:-

1) Phyllaries in 2 or 3 rows, the inner 10-13 mm, lanceolate, dark green.

2) Ligules golden yellow, shorter than the corolla tube.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes c. 2.5 mm, oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, strongly compressed and

± winged, medium brown, with rugulose ribs, smooth inbetween.

2) Pappus c. 7 mm, of thin white hairs.

Key features:-

1) Stem not woody.

2) Achenes 2-3·75 mm. smooth at least between the ribs, strongly compressed

and ± winged.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Cultivated fields, roads, wasteground, coastal habitats. 0-700(-1300) m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout Greece, Fairly widespread

across Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-Aug.

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos