An annual naturalized weed from Europe. It has a taproot and brittle, stout stems. The leaves are toothed, but not prickly as in a closed-related species that is also naturalized in fields and open areas throughout southern California. It is easy to see how this plant spreads by its thousands of airborne seeds (achenes) that float like minute parachutes with the slightest gust of wind.  Return To Table Of Plant Unknowns  All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. Armstrong