About Sonchus megalocarpus (Hook.fil.) J.M.Black
Sonchus megalocarpus (also referred to as Actites megalocarpus, commonly called dune thistle) is a fleshy perennial herb. Its leaves are stiff, prominently veined, with toothed, wavy margins. They have an elliptic to oblanceolate shape, measuring 1.5–26 cm (0.59–10.24 in) long and 0.5–4.5 cm (0.20–1.77 in) wide, and are either tapering at the base or heart-shaped and sessile. The flowers are yellow and dandelion-like, 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter, occasionally pale purple near the base, and borne on a 1–10 mm (0.039–0.394 in) long peduncle. The bracts are narrow-triangular, and the lower midrib of the outer bracts bears spines. Flowering takes place from September to June. The fruit is a compressed, light to dark brown one-seeded achene, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long with 3 longitudinal ribs. This species is usually found growing on coastal dunes and cliffs, ranging from Toorbul in Queensland to Middleton Beach in Western Australia, and along the south-east coast of Tasmania.
