Smooth Sow-Thistle
Sonchus oleraceus |
Bainney-muc |
June - August |
Glen Maye
|
This tall thistle is very similar to the Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper), but with fewer prickles on its shiny leaves.
Smooth Sow-Thistle can still have prickles, which can make it difficult to distinguish from Sonchus asper, but it usually has very few prickles.
Like other sow thistles, Smooth Sow-Thistle is edible and its milky sap has been used as a chewing gum in New Zealand.
The Manx name for this plant is "Bainney-muc".