Key identifying traits
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Leaves are a bluish-green color
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Plants usually grow from 1-5’
tall
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Lower leaves are lobed and
toothed and have spiny margins
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Plants contain a milky sap
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Flowers are yellow and resemble
dandelions
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Mature seed have a white
feathery pappus that collectively form a white "puff ball"
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Stem leaves are very prickly and
clasp the stem
Biology and ecology
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An annual or winter annual
spreading by seeds
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It grows in landscapes, winter
small grains, pastures, hay fields, orchards, and roadsides
-
This plant was introduced from
Europe and now can be found almost everywhere throughout the U.S.
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crop
Mechanical –
Tilling and mowing are effective control if done before flowering
occurs.
Chemical – Spiny sowthistle is
susceptible to many herbicides: refer to the
PNW Weed Management handbook for specific chemical recommendations.
Herbicides should be applied as soon as the plant is actively growing in
the spring. |
Richard Old, XID
Services, Inc |
