it is self seeded ,rooted in brickwork.It has hard thorns up the stem if the picture is enlarged .soft thorns can be seen running up the under side centre of the leaf.Ihave never seen anything like this plant and ive searched archives from kew and various other sites,i found nothing closely resembling this plant, can anyone advise me what it is where it comes from and if it is poisonous .heres hoping dave

My guess is a type of thistle?
Cheers Wendy
"davepav" wrote in message
...

it is self seeded ,rooted in brickwork.It has hard thorns up the stem if
the picture is enlarged .soft thorns can be seen running up the under
side centre of the leaf.Ihave never seen anything like this plant and
ive searched archives from kew and various other sites,i found nothing
closely resembling this plant, can anyone advise me what it is where it
comes from and if it is poisonous .heres hoping dave


--
davepav

"davepav" wrote
it is self seeded ,rooted in brickwork.It has hard thorns up the stem if
the picture is enlarged .soft thorns can be seen running up the under
side centre of the leaf.Ihave never seen anything like this plant and
ive searched archives from kew and various other sites,i found nothing
closely resembling this plant, can anyone advise me what it is where it
comes from and if it is poisonous .heres hoping dave



I know it only too well, it used to be on our old allotment site. If it's
what I think it is it has reddish roots that go down a long way, too far to
dig it out, it's also perennial and was a right pain. However, I can't
remember it's name.

A good case for using Glyphosate though.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:28:59 +0100, davepav
wrote:


it is self seeded ,rooted in brickwork.It has hard thorns up the stem if
the picture is enlarged .soft thorns can be seen running up the under
side centre of the leaf.Ihave never seen anything like this plant and
ive searched archives from kew and various other sites,i found nothing
closely resembling this plant, can anyone advise me what it is where it
comes from and if it is poisonous .heres hoping dave


I've seen those for years, have some in the back yard right now. I
never thought to find out what it was, just a weed to me. Now I hope
someone does know what it is.

So. Cal, zone 9 or thereabouts.

It is possibly Lactuca virosa : http://tinyurl.com/6fpotf