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Cauline leaves sessile up to c. 36 x 3 cm., linear-elliptic to narrowly-lanceolate, entire or dentately-to pinnately-lobed, attenuate to the apex, ± revolute and subentire to acicular-denticulate on the margins, sagittate-auriculate with auricles c. 2–5 cm. long, acute; lobes when present usually in the basal portion of the leaf, few to many ± remote, patent or ± reflexed, c. 7 x 1.2 cm.; upper leaves auriculate and stem clasping, becoming narrowly lanceolate and grading into the synflorescence bracts.
Achenes pale-to reddish-brown, 3–3.5 x 0.75–1 mm., narrowly ellipsoid, somewhat compressed, c. 4-angular and ribbed on the angles with c. 2 smaller ribs on the faces between, ribs becoming swollen corky and ± rugulose; pappus white, dimorphic, c. 11 mm. long, composed of minutely barbellate slightly flattened setae intermixed with down-like hairs.
A herb. It is erect and can grow for several years. It grows 1-1.5 m tall. The taproot is slightly woody. It has a single stem and branches. The stem is hollow and it has ridges along it. The leave stick upwards and are thinly leathery. The leaves on the stem are 36 cm long by 3 cm wide. The upper leaves clasp the stem and are more narrow.
Phyllaries olive-green to purplish, imbricate; the outermost from c. 4 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, woolly at first often also with brownish-purple setae on the back; the innermost 13–15 mm. long, up to c. 18 mm. long in fruiting capitula, puberulent to glabrescent or setose towards the apex, ± ciliate above, involute when dry.
Capitula solitary, or more often in few to many 2–5-capitulate clusters; mature capitula usually subtended by one or more buds; the bases of the capitula as well as the subtending buds and the upper synflorescence branches enveloped in a brownish densely woolly indumentum.
Corollas yellow, 12–16 mm. long, pubescent about the junction between tube and ligule; ligule 3–4 mm. long, shortly strap-shaped, reddish-tinged outside, glabrous.
Involucres up to c. 18 x 11 mm. in fruiting capitula, broadly cylindric to campanulate, brownish-lanate below to glabrescent, becoming swollen and corky below.
An erect robust perennial herb, usually 1–1.5 m. tall, exceptionally to c. 2 m. tall, from a terete semi-woody taproot.
Stems solitary, branching above, green or purplish often glaucous, striately ribbed, hollow, glabrous, leafy.
Leaves ascending, glabrous often glaucous, thinly coriaceous, the lowermost small and narrowly elliptic.
An erect herb like the last (Sonchus angustissimus), 3-6 ft. high
Ligules of florets yellow within, pinkish outside.
Florets very numerous.
White latex
