Yellow flower ID please

[rscott74]

Three images of same plant. I can't seem to ID it can anyone help please?
Thanks.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Prickly Sow-thistle?,

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

No, on second thoughts it now looks like Rough Hawk's-beard. I'll keep going through these composites 'til I get it right.

Cheers,

Adam

[JennyS]

Could be Perennial Sow-thistle, Sonchus arvensis

[rscott74]

Thanks for help. I think Jenny might be right. Large heads and involucres with yellow tipped glanular hairs may be the pointers - these can be seen on the close shot of flower head.

[aeshna5]

Definitely Sonchus arvensis- notice the orange glands on the stem!

[Hobjob]

Really nice clear photos to help with id !! Brill.

[rscott74]

Thanks again. As a novice I'm learning the advantage of images (what did we do before digital cameras?) and what to take. I'm also starting to pick up the 'technical' terms and if I get confused I find that Google will give a definition I can understand.
I wonder If anyone has devised a simple list for beginners of the (say) 6 parts of a plant that should be photographed - I'll have a try
- general location (shows environment and helps memory of where taken)
- fullest image of whole plant (go corner to corner if necessary)
- flower(s) from above (close as possible)
- '' from beneath ( '' )
- leaf and stem ( '' )
- base of plant
If anything strikes you as significant take further shots to illustrate. I have found that focussing and flash can create problems in macro but with digital trial and error coste nothing.

[JennyS]

To add to the list - I've found it useful to get photo's of upper and lower leaves as on some plants they can be very different, and seed pods/capsules when possible too......

[rscott74]

Jenny - good ideas. I think I'll copy and paste posts just as a reminder. Perhaps other starters like me could bo the same.

[rscott74]

Another idea is to take some images with a measure in the shot. Avoid shiny rulers as they can flash out - a homemade card is probably better.

[rscott74]

This represents a list of images to make in order to assist identification. If you can't ID yourself then 1 or 2 posted on the forum will get results I'm sure. It always has for me.

1) general location (shows environment and helps memory of where taken)
2) fullest image of whole plant (go corner to corner if necessary)
3) flower(s) from above (macro)
4) flower(s) from beneath (macro)
5) leaf and stem (macro)
6) base of plant
7) upper and lower leaves (are they different?)
8) seed pods/capsules (macro)
9) take some shots using a measure (avoid using shiny ruler!)

If anything strikes you as significant take further shots to illustrate