Sonchus oleraceus. 
Common Sowthistle. 
SONCHUS Linntei Gen. PA Syngenesia Polygamia aqualis. 
Recept. nudum. Cat imbricatus ventricofus. Pappus pilofus. 
Rail Syn. Gen. 6. Herb;e fLore composito, natura pleno lactescentes; 
SONCHUS oleraceus pedunculis tomentofis calycibus glabris. Linnai Syjl. Vegetab. p. 594. Flor. Suecic. 
p. 269. Sp. Piant, p. 11 16. 
SONCHUS foliis amplexicaulibus, dentatis, integris aut femipinnatis, calycibus lzevibus. Haller, hjjl. 
p. 10. n. 21; 
HIERACIUM oleraceum. Scopoli FI. Carniol. p. 110. 
SONCHUS hevis laciniatus latifolius. Bauhin...Pin. 124. 
SONCHUS laevis. Ger. emac . 292. 
SONCHUS vulgaris. ParJtinfon . 8054 
Rail Syn. 162. Hudfom FI. Angi. p. 294. ed. 2. p. 336. 
Lightfoot Fh Scot. p. 428. 
RADIX annua, fimplex, fibrofa, albida, Ia&efcens. 
CAULIS pedalis ad tripedalem, laevis, purpurafcens, 
tener, fiftulofus, ad baiin teres fuperne fub- 
aligulofus, ramofus. 
FOLIA amplexicaulia, laevia, glauca, nervo medio 
purpurafcente, inferiora pinnatifida, pinnarum 
paria duo aut tria, pinnis dentatis fpinulo ter- 
minatis, lateralibus ovatis, terminali magno 
triangulari, fuperiora integra, ovato-acuta, 
bafi lato. 
PEDUNCULI tomentofi, per aetatem nudi; 
CALYX communis ante fiorefcentiam cylindraceus, 
et quali truncatus, poftea ventricofo-conicus, 
fquamis plurimis, inaequalibus, lasvibus, a- 
cuminatis, fig. 1 , 2; 
COROLLA compofita, imbricata, uniformis: Flos- 
culis monopetalis, ligulatis, quinquedenta- 
tis, fig- 3. 
STAMINA in cylindrum coalita : Anthers flavae* 
apicibus nigricantibus. 
PISTILLUM: Germen fubovatum : Stylus filifor- 
mis, flaminibus longior: Stigmata duo, 
tenuia, patentia. 
SEMEN oblongum, compreffum, fulcatum, fcabriuf- 
culum: Pappus feflilis, fimplex, tenuiflimus, 
fig- 4 , 5 * 
RECEPTACULUM nudum, pun&is prominulis fca- 
brum, lucidum, fig. 6. 
ROOT annual, fimple, fibrous, whitifh, and milky; 
STALK from one to three feet high, fmooth, purplifli, 
tender, hollow, at bottom round, towards 
the top lomewhat angular, and branched. 
LEAVES embracing the ftalk, fmooth, glaucous ; 
the midrib purplilh ; the lower ones piunatifid, 
confifling of two or three pair of pinna;, 
which are indented, and each terminated by 
a little fpine ; the fide ones oval, the end one 
large and triangular; the upper leaves in tire, 
oval, pointed with a broad bafe. 
FLOWER-STALKS downy, but becoming fmooth 
by age. 
CALYX : the common Calyx before the flowering, 
cylindrical, and as it were cut off at top, af- 
terwards bellying out, and forming a cone, 
covered with numerous fmooth* unequal, 
pointed feales* fig. 1, 2. 
COROLLA compound, imbricated and uniform ; the 
Floscules monopetalous, the upper part flat, 
with five teeth, fig. 3. 
STAMINA uniting into a cylinder: An Therae yel- 
low, the tip blackifh. 
PISTILLUM : Germen nearly oval : Style filiform, 
longer than the Stamina: Stigmata two, 
flender and fpreading. 
SEED oblong, flattened, grooved, roughifli : Down 
feflile, fimple, very fine, fig. 4, 5. 
RECEPTACLE naked, rough with little prominent 
points, and fliining, fig. 6. 
THE Sowthifile is fubjedt to many varieties, fome of which have differed fo much from the common appearance 
of this plant, as to have occafioned them to be confidered as diftinft fpecies. Thus Haller makes the Sonchus afper, 
or pr icily Sowthifile , a diftindf lpecies : and the old Botanifts formed feveral other fpecies of it from different cir- 
cumftances ; as fize, breadth, divifions of its leaves, &c. But the generality of Botanifls feem now difpofed to 
confider them all as the fame, varying from foil, fituation, &c. The prickly variety feems to be the only one that 
has any pretenfions to be confidered as diftindt : but if any perfon will be at the paiils to examine a garden overun 
with thefe plants, he will readily trace it into the fmooth. 
This plant appears to have been little regarded as a medicine ; but as a favourite food of Hares and Rabbits, it is 
collected with great avidity. 
It abounds mofl in gardens and cultivated ground ; yet is fometimes met with on walls. 
Being a large plant, and of quick growth, it is one of thofe which ufually appear in negledted gardens, 
overunning mofl others, and proving more injurious to the flovenly gardener than the farmer. 
It flowers chiefly in July, Auguft, and September. 
According to the experiments made by fome of Linnaeus’s pupils, and publifhed originally in the Amoenitates 
* Academica-, it appears that it is eaten by Goats, Sheep, and Swine, but not relifhed by Horfes. 
The young tender leaves are in fome countries, boiled and eaten as greens; Lightfoot FI. Scot. 
*In die 2d. vol. of Efiays relating to Agriculture and rural affairs, by Mr. Anderson, dierc is a tranflation of thefe experiments. 
