A SECOND OHIO WEED MANUAL. 



361 



313 Dandelion I P * Taraxacum Taraxacum (L.) Karst. The dandelion 

 is a pretty weed to look upon but difficult to destroy. It is present in lawns 

 and pastures generally. One way to utilize the weed is to take up the roots, 



and place in earth in the cellar through the winter, where in early spring- it 

 will make a growth of pale leaves, unsurpassed to mix with spinach or to use 

 alone for food. 



Seeds brown, ribbed, with pappus, 1-8 inch long, contracted to a decided 

 point, and with prickles about the base of it. Destroyed by cultivation or by 

 hand digging with a narrow tool. 



314=315 Sow=thistle (A) *Sonchus aspcr (L.) 

 All., and *Sonchus oleiaccus L. The cut, Fig. 

 60 shows the appearance of the sow-thistles, 

 which have plants 2 to 5 feet high, with yellow 

 heads of flow T ers, milky juice and spin}' leaves. 

 The leaves of the second are commonly much more 

 lobed and divided, while those of the first are 

 toothed with stiff er spines. A common weed in 

 cultivated ground and about dwellings. 

 Abundant in such places as corn fields that are 

 not cultivated the succeeding spring; for example, 

 in the unseeded shock rows of a corn-stubble 

 wheat field. Destroyed by cutting or pulling. 



Seeds brown, somewhat oval, thin, 1-8 inch 

 long, striate. Those of Sonchus oleraceus also 

 {Aft<-r Millspaugh.) transversely wrinkled. 



316 Field Sow=thistle (P) *Sonchus arvensis L. Is a perennial sow- 

 thistle, somewhat shorter than the preceding, with similar leaves but larger, 

 bright yellow heads. These and the perennial root will serve to distinguish it 

 from the two preceding. It has been introduced about Cleveland, Painesville 

 and Cincinnati and perhaps at other places. 



Seeds as those of S. oleraceus but less flattened, transversely wrinkled on 

 the ribs. The field sow-thistle requires close hoe 

 cutting or digging to destroy it This weed 

 promises to compare with dandelion in lawns and 

 parks, yet it is a taller stemmed plant. 



317=318 Wild Lettuce (A or B) Lactuca Cana- 

 densis L. and L. sagitiifolia Ell. These are 

 tall growing, yellow-flowered plants of fence- 

 rows and open woods. They have rather deep 

 roots and a milky juice. While freely eaten by 

 stock the plant is by no means ornamental, deserv- 

 ing to rank as a weed, but in no wise comparable 

 to the next in aggressive characters. Besides the 

 common form with lobed leaves there is also the 

 one with entire leaves. See Fig. 61. 



Seeds brown, flat and ribbed, narrowed above 

 as those of cultivated lettuce, 1-6 inch long 

 and having pappus. They may be destroyed by cutting with scythe before the 

 blossoms open. Now included in the weed law under the name assumed to 

 apply to prickly lettuce. 



Fig. 61. Wihl Lettuce. 

 [After Millspaugh.) 



