Youngia japonica

Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, this annual or biennial herb belongs to the daisy family. It starts as a rosette of hairy, lobed leaves before producing a branched flowering stem, usually 6 to 15 inches tall. Damaged leaves and stems release milky sap. Small yellow flower heads are followed by fruits with white bristles, dispersed by wind, water and contaminated soil. It is a weed of lawns, gardens, roadsides and agricultural land. Introduced to Colombia and many other regions, it is listed as invasive in North Carolina, United States. Photographed in Manizales, Colombia.