Sonchus fruticosus

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Giant sow thistle
Sonchus fruticosus.jpg
Inflorescence
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Sonchus
Species:
S. fruticosus
Binomial name
Sonchus fruticosus
L.f. 1782
Synonyms

Sonchus laevigatusWilld.
Sonchus libycusSpach ex Boiss.
Sonchus lyratusWilld.
Sonchus squarrosusDC. [1]

Contents

Sonchus fruticosus, the giant sow thistle, is a species of flowering plant in the tribe Cichorieae of the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to the islands of Madeira. [1] The giant sow thistle is an impressive shrub native to the Madeiran evergreen forest habitat and growing up to 4 metres (13 feet) in height. [2]

It is also known as the shrubby sonchus, [3] the shrubby sow thistle, [4] [5] or the Madeiran tree dandelion [6] in English. On Madeira, it is known by the Portuguese vernacular names Leituga, [4] língua de vaca, and serralha da rocha. [2] The term leituga refers to a broad variety of plants, including prickly lettuce ( Lactuca serriola ) and cat's ear ( Hypochaeris glabra ). [7]

Description

Sonchus fruticosus growing in context in Madeira Sonchus fruticosus, Levada das 25 Fontes - Nov 2010.jpg
Sonchus fruticosus growing in context in Madeira

Sonchus fruticosus is a perennial plant, with some descriptions putting the giant sow thistle as deciduous. It grows up to 6 feet (1.8 metres) in height, and some reports putting it at 4 metres (13 feet). [2] with a woody trunk. [8] Its growing habit is that of a subshrub. [3] It is a partial evergreen in its native habitat, and loses its leaves during the winter elsewhere. It is found at an elevation of 800 meters to 1200 meters. [2] It takes 2 to 5 years to grow to its peak height, with some report putting this value at 20 to 50 years. [9] Due to its bizarre appearance, resembling that of a giant dandelion, S. fruticosus is often grown as attractions at gardens and parks, especially in Western European botanical gardens. [10] In addition, it is one of the few perennial plants and shrubs within the genus Sonchus . [3] It is part of a group of giant sowthistles found in the Macaronesian region within the subgenus Dendrosonchus; such as: Sonchus acaulis , Sonchus arboreus , Sonchus canariensis , Sonchus congestus , Sonchus hierrense , and Sonchus palmensis . [11]

The giant sow thistle has glossy toothed green leaves, with denticulate margin, sinuate, and long, [2] growing to a length of 50 centimetres (1.6 feet) [3] and arranged in a rosette. [3] The rosette grows to a width of 0.5 metres (1.6 feet) to 1 metre (3.3 feet). [3]

It flowers during the summer, [3] during the months of June, July, and August, [12] with yellow flowers that resemble dandelions. [8] [12] The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. [13] The seeds are wind dispersed. [2]

Care

The giant sow thistle requires direct sunlight or partial shade. [3] It requires regular or little watering, but prefers moist soil. The giant sow thistle is drought tolerant. [13] It generally requires average, well drained soil, [8] and free-draining, loam-based compost. The recommended pH is between 5.5 and 8.5. [12] It prefers chalky, loamy, or sandy soil. [9] It prefers a garden aspect facing south, east, or west. Its UK hardiness zone is H3 (tender in frost) and H1 (indoor heated), its USDA hardiness zone is 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, and 11. [9] [13]

It is an outdoors plant during the summer, and is recommended to be overwintered indoors. If planted outdoors, the plant can survive a frost, with the top growth being shed while the roots survive. [3] However, roots cannot survive freezing. [9] It is generally pest and disease free. [3] However vagrant populations of the aphid Uroleucon mierae and the leafhopper Empoasca fabalis are known to feed on the flowers and leaves respectively. [14] The giant sow thistle does not require pruning, with leaves being trimmed off if necessary. [9]

To propagate seeds, it is recommended to sow during the spring or summer, during the months of April and May, [12] with a minimum outdoor temperature of 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). If propagating during winter, sow in vented containers, coldframe, or an unheated greenhouse. It is recommended to sow indoors or directly before the last frost. To collect the seeds, bag the seedheads to capture the ripe seeds. The plant can self-sow, with deadheading recommended if one does not want volunteer seedlings. [13] It can be propagated by root cuttings, seeds, [9] herbaceous stem cuttings, softwood cuttings, and by air layering. [13]

Distribution

The giant sow thistle is found on the islands of Madeira. [10] [1] [3] [12] Where it grows within the Northern laurisilva cloud forest habitat within Madeira, [6] at an elevation of 800-1200 meters. There have been reports of giant sow thistles on the island of Porto Santo, where it is rare. [2]

There are additional, albeit unreliable, records of S. fruticosus being found on the Canary Islands. [8] However it is doubtful that the plant is native to the Canary Islands.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Sonchus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the daisy family Asteraceae

Sonchus is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae and are commonly known as sow thistles. Sowthistles are annual, biennial or perennial herbs, with or without rhizomes and a few are even woody.

<i>Centaurea calcitrapa</i> Species of flowering plant

Centaurea calcitrapa is a species of flowering plant known by several common names, including red star-thistle and purple starthistle. It is native to Europe but is rarely found there, it is known across the globe as an introduced species and often a noxious weed. The species name calcitrapa comes from the word caltrop, a type of weapon covered in sharp spikes.

<i>Silybum marianum</i> Species of plant of genus Silybum in family Asteraceae

Silybum marianum is a species of thistle. It has various common names including milk thistle, blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle. This species is an annual or biennial plant of the family Asteraceae. This fairly typical thistle has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Originally a native of Southern Europe through to Asia, it is now found throughout the world.

Madeira firecrest Very small passerine bird in the kinglet family from Madeira

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Maror Bitter herbs eaten during the Passover meal

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<i>Jubaea</i> Species of plant

Jubaea is a genus of palms with one species, Jubaea chilensis or Jubaea spectabilis, commonly known in English as the Chilean wine palm or Chile cocopalm, and palma chilena in Spanish. It is native to southwestern South America and is endemic to a small area of central Chile between 32°S and 35°S in southern Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Santiago, O'Higgins, and northern Maule regions.

<i>Sonchus asper</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Sonchus asper, the prickly sow-thistle, rough milk thistle, spiny sowthistle, sharp-fringed sow thistle, or spiny-leaved sow thistle, is a widespread plant in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae.

<i>Picconia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Picconia is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae, found in the laurel forests habitat of Macaronesia.

<i>Sonchus oleraceus</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae

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, hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, milk thistle. and soft thistle.

<i>Sonchus arvensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Sonchus arvensis, the field milk thistle, field sowthistle, perennial sow-thistle, corn sow thistle, dindle, gutweed, swine thistle, or tree sow thistle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. S. arvensis often occurs in annual crop fields and may cause substantial yield losses.

<i>Cicerbita alpina</i> Species of flowering plant

Cicerbita alpina, commonly known as the alpine sow-thistle or alpine blue-sow-thistle is a perennial herbaceous species of plant sometimes placed in the genus Cicerbita of the family Asteraceae, and sometimes placed in the genus Lactuca as Lactuca alpina. It is native to upland and mountainous parts of Europe.

<i>Ilex canariensis</i> Species of holly

Ilex canariensis, the small-leaved holly, is an endemic species of holly native to Macaronesian islands. It is a species of plant in the family Aquifoliaceae. It is found in the Macaronesian islands of Madeira (Portugal) and Canary Islands (Spain).

<i>Agapanthus praecox</i> Species of flowering plant

Agapanthus praecox is a popular garden plant around the world, especially in Mediterranean climates. It is native to the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. Local names include agapant, bloulelie, isicakathi and ubani. Most of the cultivated plants of the genus Agapanthus are hybrids or cultivars of this species. It is divided into three subspecies: subsp.praecox, subsp. orientalis and subsp. minimus.

<i>Argyranthemum frutescens</i> Species of flowering plant

Argyranthemum frutescens, known as Paris daisy, marguerite or marguerite daisy, is a perennial plant known for its flowers. It is native to the Canary Islands. Hybrids derived from this species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants in private gardens and public parks in many countries, and have naturalized in Italy and southern California. There are many cultivars, but the most common has white petals.

<i>Taraxacum erythrospermum</i> Dandelion species similar to the common dandelion

Taraxacum erythrospermum, known by the common name red-seeded dandelion, is a species of dandelion introduced to much of North America, but most commonly in the north. It is often considered as a variety of Taraxacum laevigatum. In many characteristics, it is similar to the common dandelion, Taraxacum officinale.

<i>Sonchus tenerrimus</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Sonchus tenerrimus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name slender sowthistle. It is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. It has been found as well in several other locations around the world, historically in association with ship ballast in coastal regions. It has become naturalized in a few places, such as California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.

<i>Sonchus palustris</i> Species of flowering plant

Sonchus palustris, commonly known as marsh sowthistle, is a plant native to temperate regions of the Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and Xinjiang in western China. It has also become naturalized in a few locations in the Canadian Province of Ontario.

<i>Actites</i> Species of plant

Actites, commonly known as the dune thistle, beach thistle or coastal sow thistle, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to Australia and contains only one species, Actites megalocarpa. It is a large, clumping herb with yellow flowers.

<i>Sonchus kirkii</i> Herb in the Asteraceae family

Sonchus kirkii, also known as New Zealand sow thistle, or shore puha is a herb in the Asteraceae family. It grows in coastal New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sonchus fruticosus L.f. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online . Kew Science. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Historia Natural de la Macaronesia". www.macaronesian.org. Açores-Madeira-Canarias (MAC). Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Sonchus fruticosus | giant sow thistle Shrubs/RHS Gardening". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 Figueiredo, Albano (2008). Calheta : património natural = natural patrimony. Coimbra: Imprenta da Universidade de Coimbra. p. 98. ISBN   9789898074591. Archived from the original on 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  5. ↑ "Madeira Island Flora". Madeira Birdwatching News & Trip Reports 🐦. 7 February 2005. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Sonchus fruticosus Seeds". Adventurous Plants. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Leituga word origin". Etymologeek. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Sonchus fruticosus | plant lust". Plant Lust. Plant Lust, LLC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sonchus fruticosus Giant sow thistle Phyllocephalum frutescens Care Plant Varieties & Pruning Advice". Shoot Gardening. Shoot Limited. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  10. 1 2 "SONCHUS FRUTICOSUS L. f. – mléč / mlieč". BOTANY.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Sonchus (Giant Sowthistle) --- Rareplants.eu". www.rareplants.de. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sonchus fruticosus, Sow-thistle in GardenTags plant encyclopedia". GardenTags. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitinger, Dave. "PlantFiles: Giant Sow Thistle". Dave's Garden . Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "Sonchus fruticosus – Plant Parasites of Europe". Plant Parasites of Europe. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
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