Sonchus oleraceus

Common sowthistle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Cichorieae
Genus:	Sonchus
Species:	S. oleraceus
Binomial name
Sonchus oleraceus L. 1753 not Wall. 1831
Synonyms
Synonymy Carduus amplexicaulis Noronha Sonchus angustissimus Hook.f. Sonchus australis Trevir. Sonchus ciliatus Lam. Sonchus fabrae Sennen Sonchus glaber Gilib. Sonchus gracilis Phil. Sonchus gracilis Sennen Sonchus lacerus Willd. Sonchus laevis Vill. Sonchus longifolius Trevir. Sonchus macrotus Fenzl Sonchus pallescens Pančić Sonchus parviflorus Lej. ex Rchb. Sonchus reversus E.Mey. ex DC. Sonchus rivularis Phil. Sonchus roseus Besser ex Spreng. Sonchus royleanus DC. Sonchus runcinatus (Fiori) Zenari Sonchus schimperi A.Braun & Bouché Sonchus schmidianus K.Koch Sonchus spinulifoius Sennen Sonchus subbipinnatifidus (Guss.) Zenari Sonchus sundaicus Blume Sonchus tenerrimus Schur 1866 not L. 1753 Sonchus umbellifer Thunb. Sonchus zacinthoides DC.

Sonchus oleraceus, with many common names including common sowthistle,sow thistle,smooth sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, milk thistle,soft thistle, or swinies, is a plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family.

Sonchus oleraceus is native to Europe and western Asia.

The scientific name Sonchus refers to the hollow stem, while oleraceus refers to its good taste. The common name sow thistle refers to its attractiveness to swine, and the similarity of the leaf to younger thistle plants. The common name hare's thistle refers to its purported beneficial effects on hare and rabbits.

This plant is annual herb with a hollow, upright stem of up to 30–100 cm high. Prefers full sun, and can tolerate most soil conditions. The flowers are hermaphroditic, and common pollinators include bees and flies. It spreads by seeds being carried by wind or water.

This plant is considered an invasive species in many parts of the world, where it is found mostly in disturbed areas. In Australia it is a common and widespread invasive species, with large infestations a serious problem in crops.

Leaves are eaten as salad greens or cooked like spinach. This is one of the species used in Chinese cuisine as kŭcài (; lit. bitter vegetable). Blanching or boiling removes bitter flavour.

Nutritional analysis reveals 30 – 40 mg of vitamin C per 100g, 1.2% protein, 0.3% fat, 2.4% carbohydrate. Leaf dry weight analysis per 100g (likely to vary with growing conditions) shows: 45g Carbohydrate, 28g protein, 22g ash, 5.9g fibre, 4.5g fat; in all, providing 265 calories.

Minerals
Calcium: 1500 mg
Phosphorus: 500 mg
Iron: 45.6 mg
Magnesium: 0 mg
Sodium: 0 mg
Potassium: 0 mg
Zinc: 0 mg;

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Wikipedia