Sonchus dregeanus DC.

Compositae, G. V. Pope. Flora Zambesiaca 6:1. 1992

Morphology General Habit

An erect glaucous perennial herb 12–90 cm. tall, from a semi-woody taproot.

Morphology Stem

Stems usually scapiform, 1-several-branched from near the base, sometimes simple, striately-ribbed.

Morphology Leaves

Cauline leaves few, grading into foliaceous bracts, or absent; lanceolate entire, attenuate above, semi-amplexicaul and sagittate-auriculate below. Leaves ± numerous, mostly basal, often rosulate, patent-ascending, up to c. 12(19) x 1(2.3) cm. Lower leaves very narrowly-oblanceolate to linear-elliptic, remotely lobed to sinuate-dentate or sharply denticulate, sometimes entire, attenuate-acute apically, glaucous; lobes up to c. 2.5 x 0.5 cm., recurved, narrowly lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula few in lax corymbiform cymes, sometimes solitary; mature capitula often subtended by 1-several subsessile buds; capitula bases and subtending buds densely white woolly.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucres up to c. 19 x 9 mm. in fruiting capitula, cylindric-campanulate, white-lanate below, the receptacle becoming somewhat swollen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Phyllaries

Phyllaries olive-green, glaucous, imbricate; the outermost c. 3 mm. long, ovate, lanate and often also patent-setose outside, semi-coriaceous; the innermost c. 15 x 2 mm. in flowering capitula, increasing to c. 19 mm. in fruiting capitula, glabrous, or setose on the midribs and apices, membranous, becoming involute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets numerous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corollas yellow, c. 15 mm. long, pubescent about the junction between the tube and ligule; ligule c. 4 mm. long, strap-shaped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes pale-brown, c. 5 mm. long, narrowly ellipsoid, slightly compressed, strongly c. 4-ribbed with 1–2 secondary ribs between, ribs eventually swollen and ± rugulose; pappus white, c. 10 mm. long, composed of few minutely barbellate setae intermixed with down-like hairs.