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Cirsium vulgare
  • Common Thistle

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

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 2
    Zone 2
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Cirsium vulgare has 0 edible uses listed
Cirsium vulgare has 0 material uses listed
Cirsium vulgare has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked[1]. A taste somewhat like a Jerusalem artichoke, but not as nice[K]. A rather bland flavour, the root is best used mixed with other vegetables[2]. The root can be dried and stored for later use[3]. 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].

Young flower stems - cooked and used as a vegetable[4][1]. Young leaves can be soaked overnight in salt water and then cooked and eaten[1]. Another report says that they can be used in salads[2]. The taste is rather bland but the prickles need to be removed from the leaves before the leaves can be eaten - not only is this a rather fiddly operation but very little edible matter remains[K]. Flower buds - cooked. Used like globe artichokes[4][1], but smaller and even more fiddly. The dried flowers are a rennet substitute for curdling plant milks[1].

Seed - occasionally eaten roasted[1].

Unknown part

Curdling agent

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used in making paper. The fibre is about 0.9mm long[5]. The stems are harvested in late summer, the leaves removed and the stems steamed until the fibres can be stripped off. The fibres are cooked with lye for two hours and then put in a ball mill for 3 hours. The resulting paper is a light brown tan[5].

The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[6]. No details of potential yields etc are given[K].

The down makes an excellent tinder that is easily lit by a spark from a flint[7].

Unknown part

Oil
Paper
Tinder

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The roots have been used as a poultice and a decoction of the plant used as a poultice on sore jaws[3].

A hot infusion of the whole plant has been used as a herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints[3].

A decoction of the whole plant has been used both internally and externally to treat bleeding piles[3].

Unknown part

Antihaemorrhoidal
Antirheumatic
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c[8]. A pernicious weed, it really needs no encouragement from us.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Cirsium vulgare. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

The common thistle is a pernicious weed that spreads freely by means of its seed which can be dispersed by the wind over a large area. The seedlings are capable of establishing themselves in grassland. This plant should not be encouraged, and if growing on your land should be cut down before it sets seed. What better way of discouraging it is there than eating it? An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Cirsium vulgare. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Cirsium vulgare.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Cirsium vulgare
Genus
Cirsium
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[3]
Material uses & Functions
[5][6][7]
Botanic
[10][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
2
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    biennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    2 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Speerdistel.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Speerdistel.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Speerdistel.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Speerdistel.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press (1988-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press ISBN 63-7093 (1963-00-00)
    8. ? Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. (1990-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    10. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Cirsium_vulgare&oldid=76275"
    Facts about "Cirsium vulgare"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCompositae +
    Belongs to genusCirsium +
    Has binomial nameCirsium vulgare +
    Has common nameCommon Thistle +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers +, Leaves +, Root +, Seed + and Stem +
    Has edible useCurdling agent + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bees +, Flies +, Lepidoptera +, Beetles + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone2 +
    Has imageSpeerdistel.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeBiennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil +, Paper + and Tinder +
    Has mature height2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntihaemorrhoidal +, Antirheumatic + and Poultice +
    Has primary imageSpeerdistel.jpg +
    Has search namecirsium vulgare + and common thistle +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameCirsium vulgare +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare +, Cirsium vulgare + and Cirsium vulgare +