[2] The lower leaves are 10 to 30 cm long, lanceolate, keeled lengthwise, grey-green, pointed, hairless, with a white midrib.

[3] On display between June and October, the flower heads are yellow and 15–25 millimetres (5⁄8–1 in) wide.

[4] The achenes are rough, long beaked pappus radiating outwards interwoven like a spider's web of fine white side hairs (referred to as a "blowball").

It is distributed across Europe and North America, commonly growing in fields (hence its name) and on roadsides.

[2] The fresh stems and buds can be cooked like asparagus and the young leaves can be eaten raw.