Sow thistle

Description
Annual, lactiferous, seed-propagated weed with strong, cone-shaped taproot. S. oleraceus produces latex and is a preferred feed for birds, chicken and geese.

Characteristic Features
Flower heads light yellow to greenish yellow (Sonchus arvensis: intensive yellow). Leaves and stems contain milky sap. Soft, floppy, shiny, greasy, bluegreen leaves.

Young Plant
Round, often flatly sinuate in front, light green, entire, petiolate.

Stems
Erect, thick, ramified, up to 80 cm-100 cm (2.62 - 3.28 ft) high.

Leaves
First leaves nearly circular, with fine teeth; following leaves runcinate-pinnatifid or undivided, soft, blue-green, enclosing the stalk sagittately, prickly dentate.