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Sonchus asper (L.) Hill
Spiny sowthistle

Sonchus asper
Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Family: Asteraceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Annual

Native Range: Europe; now a widespread weed.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Not Native, Naturalized

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Not Cultivated

Comments: For more images, click on the Atlas of Vascular Plants link below.

Other data on Sonchus asper available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Sonchus asper has been found in the following 47 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Big and Little George Hammocks Present Not Native, Naturalized
Big Cypress National Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Biscayne National Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Black Creek Forest Present Not Native, Naturalized
Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Castellow Hammock parcel 28 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Castellow Hammock parcel 31 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Castellow Hammock parcel 33 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Castellow Hammock Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Cayo Costa State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Cedar Point Environmental Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Chapman Field Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Crystal Lake Sand Pine Scrub Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park Possibly Extirpated Not Native, Naturalized
Dove Creek Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Dupuis Reserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Everglades National Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Florida City Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
Frog Pond/L-31 N Transition Lands Present Not Native, Naturalized
Hattie Bauer Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Highlands Scrub Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Holiday Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Ingram Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Lake Okeechobee Ridge Present Not Native, Naturalized
Larry and Penny Thompson Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Long Key Natural Area & Nature Center Present Not Native, Naturalized
Loveland Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Lucille Hammock Present Not Native, Naturalized
Ludlam Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
National Key Deer Refuge Present Not Native, Naturalized
Nixon Smiley Pineland Addition Present Not Native, Naturalized
Palm Drive Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized
Pond Apple Slough Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Prairie Pines Preserve Present Not Native, Naturalized
Rock Pit 39 Present Not Native, Naturalized
Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area Present Not Native, Naturalized
Secret Woods Nature Center Present Not Native, Naturalized
Silver Palm Groves Present Not Native, Naturalized
St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
Tamiami Pineland Complex Addition Present Not Native, Naturalized
Tradewinds Park & Stables Present Not Native, Naturalized
Tree Island Park Present Not Native, Naturalized
West Biscayne Pineland Present Not Native, Naturalized

Sonchus asper has been found in the following 7 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Broward County Not Native, Naturalized
Collier County Not Native, Naturalized
Hendry County Not Native, Naturalized
Lee County Not Native, Naturalized
Miami-Dade County Not Native, Naturalized
Monroe County (Keys) Not Native, Naturalized
Palm Beach County Not Native, Naturalized

Sonchus asper has been found in the following habitat :
Disturbed Upland

All Images:

Sonchus asper
Copyright by: Shirley Denton