​Field Sowthistle, Field Milk Thistle, Corn Sow Thistle,Sonchus arvensis,Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)

Found in disturbed sites, pastures, roadsides
Seen blooming in July near the Rio Chama, Abiquiu

The Field Sowthistle looks like a very tall Dandelion. It grows to 3½ feet tall with hairless stems that produce a milky juice when broken. Most of the leaves are on the lower part of the stem and have prickly teeth along the edges. Flowers grow in an open branched cluster of several flower heads at the top of the stems, not all open at the same time. Flower heads are up to two inches across. It is considered a noxious weed in some states. The leaves, flowers and roots are edible. These are best consumed when the plant is young because the older it gets the more bitter it becomes. Leaf spines need to be removed. Source. Native Americans took an infusion to calm nerves and hunters sucked the milk from branches to imitate the sound of a fawn nursing, to draw the doe nearby. Source.
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