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Onopordum acanthium
  • Scotch Thistle

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

248px
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
  • light shade
    Light 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
    Acid to Alkaline
    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
  • 6
    Zone 6
    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
Onopordum acanthium has 0 edible uses listed
Onopordum acanthium has 0 material uses listed
Onopordum acanthium has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Flower buds - cooked. A globe artichoke substitute[1][2][3][4][5], though they are much smaller and very fiddly to use[K].

Stems - cooked. Used as a vegetable, they are a cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) substitute[1][2]. The stems are cooked in water like asparagus or rhubarb[6]. They are best if the rind is removed[2][4][5]. Leaves and young plants - cooked[3][7]. They are harvested before the flowers develop and the prickles must be removed prior to cooking[3]. The petals are an adulterant for saffron[8][9][7][5], used as a yellow food colouring and flavouring.

A good quality edible oil is obtained from the seed[1][2][5]. The seed contains about 25% oil[2].

Unknown part

Colouring
Oil

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

The stem hairs are sometimes collected and used to stuff pillows[2]. An oil obtained from the seed is used as a fuel for lamps[2].

Unknown part

Oil
Stuffing

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The flowering plant is cardiotonic[3]. It is used in some proprietary heart medicines[3].

The juice of the plant has been used with good effect in the treatment of cancers and ulcers[2].

A decoction of the root is astringent[2]. It is used to diminish discharges from mucous membranes[2].

Unknown part

Astringent
Cancer
Cardiotonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ[10]. The seed can also be sown in situ in autumn[10]. If the seed is in short supply then it can be sown in a pot in the greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.

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



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in almost any ordinary garden soil[11][12]. Requires a well-drained soil, preferably in full sun though it tolerates light shade[10]. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil[10]. Grows very well in poor soils, succeeding in hot dry situations and tolerating drought when it is established[13]. A slow-growing plant[14].

Hardy to about -15°c[10]. A very ornamental plant[11], the flowers are very attractive to bees[10]. Plants are prone to slug and snail damage[14].

Often self-sows, sometimes to the point of nuisance, though the seedlings can easily be hoed out and can also be transplanted if they are moved whilst still small[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Onopordum acanthium. 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 Onopordum acanthium.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Onopordum acanthium
Genus
Onopordum
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[3][2]
Material uses & Functions
[2]
Botanic
[15][10]
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
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
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
    slow
    Mature Size
    1.5 x 1 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Illustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Illustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Illustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.102.112.12 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.6 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.510.610.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    12. ? Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge (1926-00-00)
    13. ? Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent ISBN 0460045512 (1982-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    15. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-17

    "image:Illustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Onopordum_acanthium&oldid=78920"
    Facts about "Onopordum acanthium"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCompositae +
    Belongs to genusOnopordum +
    Has binomial nameOnopordum acanthium +
    Has common nameScotch Thistle +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers +, Leaves + and Stem +
    Has edible useColouring +, Unknown use + and Oil +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bees + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageIllustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeBiennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useOil + and Stuffing +
    Has mature height1.5 +
    Has mature width1 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +, Cancer + and Cardiotonic +
    Has primary imageIllustration Onopordum acanthium0.jpg +
    Has search nameonopordum acanthium + and scotch thistle +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameOnopordum acanthium +
    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.Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium +, Onopordum acanthium + and Onopordum acanthium +