I wouldn't normally expect to find any flowers in late November but with so little frost in Autumn of 2004 the summer plants have carried on growing. This one had grown as an weed in a late crop of sunflowers eventually abandoned by the farmer as the seeds would not ripen. S. asper has to be distinguished from S. oleraceus and unfortunately there appears to be a continuum from the soft leaves of S. oleaceus to the dentate, prickly ones of S. asper. My test is whether I can feel the leaves prickling my hand or not - yes and it is S asper.
Field in Alvanley, Cheshire 22nd November 2004
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Added on December 18th 2004