Sonchus oleraceus

Milk thistle, Sow thistle

AsteraceaeFruitLeavesRootsFlowersShootsScore: 41/100Potential hazards — see below

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(c) Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX

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(c) Nathan Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Root, Leaves, Berries, Fruit, Vegetable, Stems, Flowers

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked — this species has the best-tasting leaves in the genus, typically mild and agreeable, especially in spring. They work well in salads, cooked like spinach, or added to soups. The leaves contain approximately 30–40mg of vitamin C per 100g, 1.2% protein, 0.3% fat, 2.4% carbohydrate, and 1.2% ash. On a dry weight basis, the leaves provide 265 calories per 100g and contain: protein 28g, fat 4.5g, carbohydrate 45g, fibre 5.9g, ash 22g, calcium 1500mg, phosphorus 500mg, iron 45.6mg, vitamin A 35mg, thiamine (B1) 1.5mg, riboflavin (B2) 5mg, niacin 5mg, and vitamin C 60mg. Removing the marginal prickles is advisable though not essential. Stems can be cooked like asparagus or rhubarb and are best with the outer skin removed first. Young roots can be cooked, though they are woody and not particularly palatable. The milky sap has been used as a chewing gum by the Māori of New Zealand.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a temperate climate plant. It is found occasionally in disturbed or cultivated soil, especially in Mt Province in the Philippines. It occurs between 1000 m and 2500 m altitude. In Java it occurs between 200-2,200 m above sea level. In Nepal it grows between 2000-2800 m altitude. It grows in the central highlands of Vietnam. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andes, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Is., Caribbean, Caucasus, Chad, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Falklands, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Manchuria, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Senegal, Siberia, Sicily, Sinai, Slovenia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Albania, Armenia, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Botswana, Belarus, Belize, Canada, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Cook Islands, Chile, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Djibouti, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Ecuador, Estonia, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, Fiji, Micronesia, France, Gabon, United Kingdom, Grenada, Georgia, French Guiana, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Guatemala, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Croatia, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Comoros, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, North Macedonia, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Northern Mariana Islands, Mauritania, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Mexico, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Nauru, Niue, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Peru, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sierra Leone, San Marino, Senegal, Somalia, Suriname, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, El Salvador, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Tonga, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Taiwan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Venezuela, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Samoa, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

An erect annual hairy herb. It has milky sap. It is 40 to 60 cm high. The plant is bluish-green. The leaves are alternate. The leaves do not have stalks and half clasp the stem. Leaves are 10 to 20 cm long and very coarsely lobed. Flower heads are about 1 cm long and yellow. The fruit is dry and 3 ribbed. It opens to a round white ball. The seeds blow in the wind.

Nutrition Score: 41/100

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Leaves	94	109	26	2.3	678	22	1.6	0.7
Leaves	93.2	75	18	1.9	85	—	3.1	—

How to Grow

Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position. This plant has been cultivated for its edible leaves by the Maoris of New Zealand. The plant is a good companion for onions, tomatoes, corn as well as the cucumber and squash family. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring directly in situ. As a common garden weed, this species should not need any special encouragement to establish.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is emmenagogue and hepatic. An infusion has been used to stimulate delayed menstruation and to treat diarrhoea. The latex in the sap is used to treat warts and is also said to have anticancer activity. The stem juice is a powerful hydrogogue and cathartic but should be used with great caution as it can cause colic and tenesmus. The gum has been used as a remedy for the opium habit. Leaves applied as a poultice help treat inflammatory swellings. An infusion of the leaves and roots is both febrifuge and tonic.

Other Uses

The latex in the stem contains 0.14% rubber, which is too low for commercial use. The plant makes a good companion for onions, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, and the squash family. It is also suitable for food forest plantings.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Sonchus oleraceus is a species of flowering plant in the tribe Cichorieae of the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and Western Asia. It has many common names including common sowthistle, sow thistle, smooth sow thistle, annual sow thistle, puha (in New Zealand English, from Māori pūhā), hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, milk thistle, and soft thistle.

Production

The tender leaves can be picked or the whole plant up rooted.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Notes

Chemical composition (Chinese sample): Protein = 1.2%. Fat = 0.3%. Carbohydrate = 2.4%. Ash = 1.2%. Reportedly rich in Vitamin C. There are about 60 Sonchus species. Contains flavonoids, proanthocyanids, saponins, alkaloids, fatty acids, vitamin C, carotenoids. Mineral elements: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, manganese.

Names & Synonyms

Amargon, Anakisoa, Apuruku, Beroberoka, Bhattal, Bono sa lekwaba, Borraja, Burchkhala, Cardedda bianca, Cascigno, Cerraja, Cerrajilla, Cevceg, Chikoka chisiwere, Chinguwo, Cicerbica, Cicerbita, Common sowthistle, Crujiera, Delgiyu, Dente-de-leao, Diente de leon, Dodak, Dodhak, Dudhejhar, Dudhi, Dudhi kanda, Esek marulu, Forrajas, Gagalang, I'lk-khai, Idwingabane, Ihanenabe, Ihlaba, Ingabe, Irhabe, JIkigeembegeembe, u'thaith, Kasni, Khala, Kizimhamucho, Kolfidekamajun, Kostrijec, Kostris, Ku mai cai, Lechuguilla, Lesabe, Lesese, Leshabe, Lessan albuqri, Lessan-athawr, Lessan al-baqarah, Lessan-imthawr, Lihabe, Lletsons, Makutaasila, Malai booti, Matakoatsila, Mhatara, Milk tassel, Mlee zelinny, Mlicz, Molaba, Mshunga kwake, Mshunga, Odaid, Pathari, Peeli dodhak, Puha rauriki, Pwake, Q'ara sapi, Quelete, Quelite cuan guiti, Ratrinta, Rau cuc sua, Rau diep dang, Rurimirwemombe, Rwabe, Sevone, Shashe, Sinbanggu, Soon dodak, Sutlengec, Talabretraka, Tarizha, Thalaak, Tifef, Titaliya, Tokkiboribab, Tong tong cai, Tshi-to-kangs-rba, Tsohos, Tue doan rau, Umeisennier, Yalanci marul, Zuccho

Sonchus ciliatus Lam.Sonchus fabrae SennenSonchus gracilis Phil.Sonchus gracilis SennenSonchus lacerus Willd.Sonchus laevis Vill.Sonchus longifolius Trev.Sonchus pallescens Panc.Sonchus parviflorus Lej. ex Rchb.Sonchus reversus E. Mey. ex DC.Sonchus rivularis Phil.Sonchus roseus Besser ex Spreng.Sonchus royleanus DC.Sonchus sundaicus BlumeSonchus umbellifer Thunb.Sonchus zacinthoides DC.

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