Common Sow-thistle

This annual plant has a hollow, upright stem up to 30 to 100 centimetres (12 to 39 in) high. It prefers full sun, and can tolerate most soil conditions. The flowers are hermaphroditic, and common pollinators include bees and flies. It spreads by seeds being carried by wind or water.

The leaves are eaten as salad greens or cooked like spinach. This is one of the species used in Chinese cuisine as kŭcài (苦菜; lit. bitter vegetable). The younger leaves are less bitter and better to eat raw. Steaming can remove the bitterness of older leaves. The younger roots are also edible and can suffice as a coffee substitute.

Nutrition. Nutritional analysis reveals 30–40 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of plant, 1.2% protein, 0.3% fat, 2.4% carbohydrate. Leaf dry matter analysis per 100 g (likely to vary with growing conditions) shows: 45 g carbohydrate, 28 g protein, 22 g ash, 5.9 g fibre, 4.5 g fat; in all, providing 265 calories. Minerals

Calcium: 1500 mg Phosphorus: 500 mg Iron: 45.6 mg Magnesium: 0 mg Sodium: 0 mg Potassium: 0 mg Zinc: 0 mg Vitamins

A: 35 mg Thiamine (B1): 1.5 mg Riboflavin (B2): 5 mg Niacin: 5 mg B6: 0 mg C: 60 mg

Herbalism. Sonchus oleraceus has a variety of uses in herbalism. It also has been ascribed medicinal qualities similar to dandelion and succory. When the plant was introduced to New Zealand, the Māori people found it similar to and as palatable as their native pūhā or S. kirkii (also known as raurōroa), thus also picked up S. oleraceus (since also named rauriki) for similar food and medical use. Native Americans had many uses for this plant. …

Its specific epithet oleraceus means "vegetable/herbal". The common name 'sow thistle' refers to its attractiveness to pigs, and the similarity of the leaf to younger thistle plants. The common name 'hare's thistle' refers to its purported beneficial effects on hare and rabbits.