Cirsium foliosum
a perennial member of the Cirsium genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Cirsium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - cooked[8][9][1][2]. About the size of a carrot, they are sweet and well-flavoured though require long preparation[5]. The root is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence[K]. Plant crown[9]. No more details are given. Stems - peeled[2]. The peeled stems are a sweet potherb[5]. Tender with a sweet delicate taste212].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Stem
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[6]. No details of potential yields etc are given[K].
- Product or use
- Oil
Environment
- Range
- N. America - Montana to Saskatchewan.
- Habitat
- Swales and other moderately moist and badly drained sites[7]
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c[3]. Division in spring or autumn.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[4]. This species should tolerate wet soils[K].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9