Key to Sonchus
View taxon page for Sonchus
(For a list of species in Sonchus, use the above link.)
Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.
1. Perennial herb from long
rhizomes;
fruit ±
compressed Flattened side-to-side or front-to-back.
, 3–4-angled, 2-ribbed between angles
..... S. arvensis 2' Peduncles and phyllaries generally sessile-glandular, rarely
tomentose Covered with densely interwoven, generally matted hairs.
..... subsp. uliginosus 1' Annual from
taproots; fruit weakly to strongly flattened
3. Stem slender;
leaves deeply lobed,
lobes 1. A major expansion or bulge, such as on the margin of a leaf, sepal, or petal, or on the surface of an ovary. 2. The free tips of otherwise fused structures, such as sepals or petals; larger than teeth.
toothed and often with smaller 2° lobes; fruit only slightly flattened, transversely roughened;
ligule 1. In Asteraceae, the 5-lobed, strap- or fan-shaped outer portion of the corolla of a ligulate flower. 2. In most Poaceae and some other grass-like plants, an appendage at the adaxial junction of leaf sheath and blade, generally membranous, sometimes formed of hairs. 3. In Isoetes and, more obscurely, in Selaginella, a membrane that wholly or partially covers a sporangium.
>
corolla tube; uncommon
..... S. tenerrimus 3' Stem
stout; leaves toothed or with wide lobes; fruit flat, with thin edges, smooth or cross-roughened; ligule <= corolla tube; widespread and common
4. Proximal (clasping) lobes of leaves rounded, strongly curved to coiled; fruit 3-ribbed per side, otherwise smooth; ligule < corolla tube
..... S. asper subsp. asper 4' Proximal (clasping) lobes of leaves
acute Having a short-tapered, sharp tip, the sides convex or straight and converging at less than a right angle.
; fruit 2–4-ribbed and cross-wrinkled; ligule ± = corolla tube
..... S. oleraceus
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