Practical
Plants

Cirsium tuberosum

Tuberous Thistle

a perennial member of the Cirsium genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

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[10][5]. It can be stored overwinter[8][1]. A slight bitterness but acceptable, it makes a reasonable cooked vegetable[K]. Sometimes, however, the root seems to be very aromatic and is then less than pleasant[K]. The root is 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 part
Root

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed fluff is used as a tinder[2]. The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[7]. No details of potential yields etc are given[K].

Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Tinder

Environment

Range
Western and central Europe, including Britain.
Habitat
Damp grassland on calcareous soils[4][9].
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[3]. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.

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[6]. Plants are tolerant of considerable neglect, though they produce much better roots when given a good soil and some attention[K].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  2. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

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  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

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  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  7. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  9. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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