- Taxon
- Gallery
- ≡ Sonchus oleraceus var. littoralis Kirk, Trans. New Zealand Inst. 26: 265 (1894) – as γ littoralis
- ≡ Sonchus asper var. littoralis (Kirk) Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 362 (1899)
- ≡ Sonchus littoralis (Kirk) Cockayne, Rep. Bot. Kapiti Isl. 21 (1907) nom. illeg., non Sonchus littoralis Rchb. 1831
- ≡ Sonchus littoralis (Kirk) Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 760 (1961) nom. illeg., non Sonchus littoralis Rchb. 1831
Biennial to perennial. Roots tap and fibrous; taproot swollen above. Stem erect, simple or branching above, finely grooved or ribbed, glabrous, (5)–15–60–(100) cm tall. Lvs thick, glaucous, dull, glabrous, lanceolate to narrowly oblong to linear-oblanceolate, (3)–8–20–(55) × (1)–3–6–(15) cm; margins dentate. Rosette and lower stem lvs tapering to base, pinnatifid to < 1/2 way to midrib; lobes broadly triangular, spreading or slightly deflexed. Upper lvs not lobed, narrowly triangular to linear or narrowly oblanceolate, with ± rounded amplexicaul auricles at base. Infl. cymose to umbellate; capitula few to many. Involucre 10–15 mm long, turbinate to cylindric; bracts imbricate, recurved at fruiting, glabrous or sometimes the outer with a row of median broad-based trichomes, occasionally densely white-tomentose at base. Receptacle glabrous. Florets 11/2× length of involucre; corolla tube slightly > ligule; ligules spreading, yellow. Achenes elliptic, brown, strongly flattened, (3)–3.5–4 × 1.3–1.8 mm, 3-ribbed on each face, winged; spaces between ribs smooth; wings and ribs smooth. Pappus fine, white, c. = involucre.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]