S. tertius asperior. Dodon. Pempt. 643. f . 3.
S. asperior. Ger. Em. 291. f.—(from the same
block as the two preceding.)
Prickly-dented Sowthistle. Petiv. t. 14. f . 4.
Prickly-jagged Sowthistle. *Petiv. t. 14. f . 5.
O . F the synonyms cited, some belong to a, some to (3, and
some to both varieties, which are indeed intimately connected
by various intermediate modifications. They are
as common on all sorts of cultivated ground as S. oleraceus,
t. 483, and are found also in wilder hedges, and in somewhat
watery places, where the other scarcely occurs.
S. asper agrees with 3. oleraceus in stature and habit, and
undergoes nearly parallel variations in size and in the shape
of its leaves: but Wallroth has pointed out distinctions
which seem permanent and essential in the auricles of the
leaves, and especially in the seeds ; to which may be added
that the lowest leaves in that species are on bare stalks,
whilst in this they are webbed to their junction with the
stem. The seeds of S. oleraceus are conspicuously wrinkled
transversely, as well as ribbed longitudinally; those of
S. asper are merely furnished with longitudinal ribs: they
are also more compressed, and have a thinner and almost
membranous margin, which is so minutely denticulate that
a glass of considerable power is required to distinguish the
teeth ; but upon the ribs of the disk also teeth are discoverable
with a still more powerful glass, especially towards
the base of the seed. The leaves are fringed with more
rio-id and, in general, more numerous teeth than those of
S. oleraceus, and the lobes, in the sinuated-leaved varieties,
are usually less remarkably runcinate, but have the margin
more crisped, and often very prickly from its teeth
being presented in several rows. The upper surface of
the leaves is mostly of a bright green and shining in this
species, and glaucescent in the other; but both species vary
occasionally in this point, as well as in the presence or absence
of gland-tipped sets on the branches of the panicle.
The calyx-scales sometimes are even, and sometimes have
a few sharp teeth on the keel. The deciduous cottony web
on the young flower-stalks is mostly wanting; and when
found, it is less copious than in S. oleraceus.
The trivial name bestowed by the old authors and adopted
by Hoffman, (as it had been by Linnasus to distinguish
the forms of this species as varieties of S. oleraceus,) is most
manifestly appropriate to the rougher states of the species ;
but the rigid and spine-like teeth, with which the leaves
are fringed, sufficiently justify its application to the flatleaved
a. also. Yet Wallroth’s nameyh/^x ought perhaps
to be preferred, Gmrtner having figured the seed of S. oleraceus,
in his tab. 158, under the name of S. asper.
SONCHUS oleraceus it. 843.)
may be distinguished by the following specific character.
Root annual. Seeds cancellate. Leaves undivided
or pinnatifid, toothed, clasping the stem
with spreading sagittate auricles; lowest leaves
stalked,
a. leaves undivided or nearly so.
(3. leaves pinnatifid.
Some of the principal synonyms, belonging mostly to /3,
are
Sonchus oleraceus. Uojfrn. Deut. FI. v. 2. 108.
Wallr. Sched. Grit. 431. Curt. FI. Lond. t. 58.
—a. Isevis. Linn. Sp. PI. ed.2. 1117.—a. (3. Sm.
FI. Brit. 817. Engl. FI. v. 3. 343.—«. (3. y .
Huds. 336.