Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Tempuyang or perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) is a species of plant in the Asteraceae, herbaceous, upright with a height of 65-150 cm, stems are green, cylindrical, soft, hollow, green gummy and hairy,

S. arvensis has a single elongated oval-shaped leaf, pointed tip, purplish green, smooth surface, wavy edges and irregular teeth, 6-48 cm long and 3-12 cm wide. The leaves are near the base of the stem and are toothed and form a rosette. The leaves located at the top sit alternately hugging the stem.

Compound flowers, bell-like petals and a crown shaped like a collection of white or yellow needles. The fruit is box-shaped, has 5 ribs and has black hairs which then turn into small and light seeds.

This species grows in open places exposed to full sunlight or slightly protected such as cliffs, edges of waterways and abandoned land. It grows well in areas with lots of rain at an elevation of 50-1650 meters.

This plant contains alpha-lactuserol, β-lactoserol, mannitol, inositol, silica, potassium, flavonoids, tarak-sasterol, volatiles (decanal, eicosane, phytol, dokozan), aliphatic hydrocarbon, benzoic acid. Widely used to treat gout, kidney stones, urinary stones, gallstones, coughs, asthma, bronchitis, swelling and sedatives.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Tribe: Cichorieae
Subtribe: Hyoseridinae
Genus: Sonchus
Species: Sonchus arvensis
Subspecies: Sonchus arvensis ssp. arvensis, Sonchus arvensis ssp. humilis, Sonchus arvensis ssp. maritimus, Smooth Field Sowthistle Sonchus arvensis ssp. uliginosus

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