On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:18:36 -0700 (PDT), mleblanca
wrote:

On Apr 24, 7:36 pm, wrote:
On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:16:02 -0500, Charlie wrote:
On Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:39:51 +1000, "FarmI" ask@itshall be given
wrote:

Thistles are actually wonderful plants as they are 'deep miners'. What I
mean by that is that they send their roots down waaaay deep and bring
minerals up into the top soil.

This is a point too often not made and too often forgotten.

Thistles are good additions to the compost pile, because of this deep
mining, provided they are nicked out before seeding.

Charlie

Thistles smell good too, but I still think it's wild lettuce. I
suppose one way to tell is if the OP screams when they step on it.

Kate

Kate
I agree that it is a Lactuca, or maybe a Sonchus, sow thistle.
The leaves are immature and its difficult to tell the difference at
this stage.
I don't think the leaves are dentate or prickly enough to be a true
thistle (Circium)

Doesn't mention flower color.
Emilie
NorCal

Hey Emilie,

In TN, it's too early for the sow thistles and wild lettuce to bloom,
but the 1 thistle I'm aware of in my yard is just days away from
blooming.

To me, sow thistles are easier to mistake for milk or Canadian thistle
in the early stages - both look dangerous but the sow thistle isn't.
The wild lettuce, admittedly a favorite of mine, doesn't look
threatening to me. (I harvest the leaves - they have a mild sedative
effect.)

Kate