© Harry Rose
Introduced, cool season, annual, erect herb to 150 cm tall. It exudes white latex if damaged and stems are hollow. Leaves are more or less leathery, pinnatifid to pinnatisect, with rounded auricles and pungent spines on margins; basal leaves lack auricles and sometimes form a rosette. Flowerheads are panicles, with heads (5-6 mm wide) containing yellow petal-like flowers. Fruits have ribs ribs and are scabrous on the margins, otherwise smooth and topped with a parachute of silky hairs. Flowering is from October to December. A native of Europe, it is a weed of most habitats, particularly roadsides, cultivation, gardens and wasteland.
Photo taken on 24 May 2014
Usage licence:
Attribution License