Cirsium oligophyllum
a perennial member of the Cirsium genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Cirsium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - cooked[2]. Added to soups or fried[3]. Root - cooked[2]. The roots are slender with scarcely developed rhizomes[5]. They are scraped into pieces, steeped in water and preserved in miso[3]. 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]. The flower heads are fried or used in salads[3].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
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
- E. Asia - central Japan.
- Habitat
- In sunny grasslands and along temperate forest margins at elevations of 20 - 1200 metres[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- 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[1]. Division in spring or autumn.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[4].
References
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Flora of Japan www.foj.info
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9