Sonchus congestus

Sonchus congestus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.^[1] It is endemic to the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria and Tenerife).^[2]

Sonchus congestus
At Garachico (Tenerife)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Sonchus
Species:	S. congestus
Binomial name
Sonchus congestus Willd.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Sonchus abbreviatus Link Sonchus broussonetii Desf. Sonchus jacquinii DC. Sonchus macranthus Poir.

Description

Sonchus congestus is a shrub up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall. The leaves form a rosette at the ends of the stems. The leaves are relatively smooth (subglabrous), and have triangular to rounded lobes along their length. The flower heads are large, up to 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) across.^[3]

• 
  Leaf rosette
• 
  Inflorescences

Distribution

Sonchus congestus is endemic to the Canary Islands. In Tenerife, it is found in forested areas in Sierra Anaga and along the north coast at elevations of 100–800 m (330–2,620 ft). It is also found in the central and northern regions of Gran Canaria.^[3]