| Sonchus kirkii | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Declining (NZ TCS) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Sonchus |
| Species: | S. kirkii |
| Binomial name | |
| Sonchus kirkii Hamlin | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Sonchus kirkii, also known as New Zealand sow thistle, or shore puha is a herb in the Asteraceae family. It grows in coastal New Zealand.
Appearance
The shore puha has green leaves extending upwards with spiky sides. On the top is a yellow flower. The shore puha can grow up to 15-30 centimeters tall. Occasionally it grows up to 100 centimeters.
Conservation status
The conservation status of the shore puha is currently at "declining" and its umbrella category is "at risk".
Threats
Other species of Sow thistles that grow faster may be the reason for the shore puha to be at a declining status as it is outcompeted. The sowthistles Sonchus asper and Sonchus oleraceus can take over the habitats that the shore puha prefer and colonizing the area quicker. Up until the mid-1980s the shore puha was common, but since then its numbers have been declining.
Maori use and Chinese market gardens
Market gardeners in NZ of Chinese background grew puha for their own consumption. It was a staple of the Māori diet and often grew wild in market gardens.
Other names
- pūhā
- puha
- puwha (Māori)
- raurōroa
Gallery
-
The shore puha or Sonchus kirkii in the Dunedin Botanic Garden, Dunedin, New Zealand
-
Sonchus kirkii in the Auckland Botanic Gardens, New Zealand
References
- "Assessment Details for Sonchus kirkii Hamlin". New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) Department of Conservation (New Zealand). 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- "Sonchus kirkii". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ "Sonchus kirkii". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
- "Sonchus kirkii | Edimentals !". Retrieved 2022-04-28.
- "Sonchus kirkii - Useful Temperate Plants". temperate.theferns.info. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
- Chinese Market Gardening in Australia and New Zealand. p. 65. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-51871-8.
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