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 Appearance:
Perennial forb, 2-5' tall, erect, single stem branches near the
top into several flower stalks. Broken stems emit a sticky, milky,
bitter juice with a sour odor. Leaves:
Alternate, lower leaves are deeply lobed, upper leaves clasp the stem;
similar to dandelion leaves except with teeth ending in small weak
prickles. Flower:
Bright yellow daisies up to 2" wide, blooming from June through August.
Seed:
Tufted, wind-dispersed. Root:
Widely spreading white brittle roots penetrating 5-10', producing
new plants from small root pieces. |
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Sow thistle spreads vegetatively as
well as through wind-borne seeds. Each tiny piece of root can grow
another plant. Common throughout the U.S., it colonizes in cultivated
fields, pastures, woodlands, roadsides and gardens. It is not a serious
threat to intact native plant communities.
Legal Status:
This plant is a prohibited noxious weed in Minnesota and must be
controlled or eradicated as required by Minnesota Statutes, section
18.78.
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 Ontario
Vegetation Management Association
www.ovma.on.ca/Weeds/thistle |
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