Tasmania has one native and
two introduced species of Sonchus (Sow Thistles). These are all
short-lived herbs with erect, leafy stems, taproots and abundant milky latex. S.
oleraceus is a very common weed in gardens and waste areas. S.
hydrophilus is similar and is an uncommon coastal plant. S.
asper is also common has distinct soft spines especially on the
leaf margins. Actites megalocarpa was
included in the Students Flora as Sonchus megalocarpus It
resembles S. asper, but is a sand-dune species with rhizomes
instead of a taproot.
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