Sonchus oleraceus L. Common Name : Smooth sowthistleFamily : Asteraceaea HABIT AN ERECT ANNUAL HERB. STEMS GROOVED, SUB-UMBELLATELY BRANCHED, GLABROUS. LEAVES THIN, SESSILE, OBOVATE-LANCEOLATE, BASE HALF AMPLEXICAUL, DENTATE FLOWERS HEADS YELLOW, IN IRREGULAR UMBELLATE CYMES. FRUITS ACHENE COMPRESSED, NARROWLY OBOVOID, RIBBED, DISTINCTLY MURICULATE, LIGHT BROWN. PAPPUS COPIUS, WHITE, LONGER THAN THE ACHENE.