Practical
Plants

Salsola kali ruthenica

Prickly Russian Thistle

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Salsola
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves and stems - raw or cooked[1][3]. The very young shoots are chopped up and eaten in salads, older shoots are cooked as greens or as a salty flavouring for other foods[3]. Seed - cooked. Roasted and used as food[3].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

A poultice of the chewed plants has been applied to ant, bee and wasp stings[3]. An infusion of the plant ashes has been used both internally and as a wash in the treatment of smallpox and influenza[3].

Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Stings

Environment

Range
Europe, Naturalized in Northern N. America.
Habitat
Sandy shores, cultivated fields and waste places in Eastern N. America[4]. Often found in non-saline sands and as a ruderale in Europe[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. The seed has a short viability and should be stored cool over the winter[2].

Cultivation

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. Requires a very sunny position in a light or medium well-drained soil, it tolerates salty soils, occasional inundation by salt water and maritime exposure. Succeeds in poor soils and grows more vigorously on alkaline soils[2].

References

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

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  2. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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

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