Image to followAI-generated illustrationSonchus arvensis
Sonchus arvensis subsp. uliginosus
FamilyGenus: Gänsedistelnnative in Germany
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63
Species
interact
🔗
83
Interactions
documented
🐛
3
Host relationships
Species
About this species
A native British perennial herb of open sunny places, with broad leaves, yellow flower heads and a deep root system. It reaches about 0.9 m in height and thrives on moist, alkaline to neutral soils.
Ecological network
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PollinationLarval hostFlower visit
Ecological significance
As a native component of the British flora, Sonchus arvensis forms part of the natural vegetation of open, moist, calcareous habitats and contributes to local biodiversity.
Annual cycle
The plant is a herbaceous perennial that starts growth in spring, flowers in summer, and dies back in autumn, persisting through winter as below-ground organs.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Sonne
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
Mittelzehrer (Normaler Boden)
Flowering period
—
Soil reaction
Basisch / Kalkhold
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Krautige Pflanze
Woodiness
Nicht verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Plant height
0.923 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
This native wild species is not commonly planted in gardens. If it occurs naturally, it thrives in full sun on moist, alkaline to neutral soils. It can be left to grow in wild corners where its requirements are met, but may be weedy in cultivated ground.
Scientific profile
Sonchus arvensis is a non-woody perennial herb native in Great Britain. It grows to around 0.9–0.92 m tall, bearing broad leaves and a terrestrial habit. The plant prefers full sun and moderately moist sites, with a strong affinity for calcareous or neutral soils (reaction value 8) and mesotrophic nutrient levels. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. The diaspores are light (around 0.66 mg) and easily wind-dispersed. Its ecological profile indicates a moderate temperature requirement.
Pollinators & visitors
46 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze
Apis melliferaSatyrium w-albumLasioglossum fulvicorneLasioglossum morioHylaeus communisAndrena nitidiusculaBombus lapidariusBombus bohemicusBombus lucorumBombus muscorumAndrena minutulaBombus pratorumAglais urticaeOsmia spinulosaPanurgus banksianusLasioglossum albipesLasioglossum calceatumAndrena fulvagoLasioglossum leucozoniumOsmia leaianaMegachile lignisecaOedemera nobilisAndrena clarkellaLasioglossum pauxillumBombus pascuorumBombus sylvestrisPieris rapaeAndrena haemorrhoaHylaeus annulatusVanessa atalantaMegachile centuncularisBombus soroeensisHalictus rubicundusDasypoda hirtipesMelitta leporinaMegachile lapponicaMegachile rotundataLasioglossum zonulumHalictus confususAnthidium manicatumLasioglossum villosulumVanessa virginiensisEuphydryas desfontainiiMelitaea aetherieMelitaea phoebeMelitaea varia
Host relationships
3 species use this plant as a host
Other flower visitors
14 other species visit the flowers
Carduelis carduelisColumba palumbusCorvus frugilegusStreptopelia decaoctoEmberiza citrinellaoedemera luridaBrassicogethes aeneusLinaria cannabinaFringilla coelebsPasser domesticusMisumena vatiaOxythyrea funestaHarpalus affinisHarpalus rufipes
Sources & data origin
•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)
•Middleton-Welling_2020
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →