Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) – This member of the Asteraceae family has quite an unenviable reputation as a nasty and troublesome weed of gardens and arable land, and yet, seen in a different light, it is much more than just that. It has a beauty all of its own as a native wild flower and a source of nectar to pollinating insect. It also has medicinal properties as well as culinary.
Please double-click images for a closer look.
Nature Journeys 
I like it.
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Weed or not, I like most things that bloom!
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So do I, Sandy 🙂
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The second photograph is particularly lovely.
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Thank you!
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Troublesome weed with beautiful flower 😀
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Thank you!
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We have an introduced sow thistle here: Sonchus oleraceus . It’s also a troublesome weed, but it shows up on various foraging sites, especially because of the palatability of young leaves. I came across a fasciated specimen alongside the road; I need to dig out those photos and post them. It took on quite an unusual form.
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We also have the same thistle here, amongst other similar species. They are not always easy to identify unless you can key them, or get help.
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So pretty!
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Thank you!
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I must agree with you, more important then people know.
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It’s also pretty, when is a weed not a weed? When it’s a wild flower which it actually is.
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Exactly my thoughts on the weed thing, Jill )
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Uncommonly beautiful!
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Thank you 🙂
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Beautiful shots! I have some of these (I don’t know which kind) on my balcony and some insects like them very much, so I let them grow. I like them too, but I never saw them in such a nice light 🙂 Well done!
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Thank you 🙂 Thank you 🙂 There a couple of similar species around.
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