Mature leaves grow down the stem beyond their bases, causing the stalk to be winged and prickly, lobed leaf-like structures. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The specific name of this species is due to the resemblance of the flower-head to the Caltrops, or iron ball covered with spikes, formerly used for throwing under horses' feet to lame them on a field of battle. Culpepper describes the 'Wild Carline Thistle (C. vulgaris)' as having flowers 'of a fine purple,' so he must have confused it with another species, or given it a wrong name. Cirsium vulgare, the spear thistle, bull thistle, or common thistle, is a species of the Asteraceae genus Cirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66N, locally 68N), Western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains). It is also naturalised in North America, Africa, and Australia and is an invasive weed in some areas. It is not uncommon in England, but is rare in Scotland, where it is confined to sandy seashores in the southern counties. Beginner's Guide to Safely Foraging for You can occasionally find bull thistle in your lawn or garden. A hot infusion of the whole plant has been used as a herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints. It can be an acquired taste, so try a bit first. Though bull thistle is difficult to contain, frequent mowing before it flowers can help keep it under control. It makes a HUGE difference when you share our articles. : Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Rabbit-food of Wild Plants, Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum Vulgare: Edible & Medicinal Uses ofthe Beloved Daisy of Wild Plants, Vipers Bugloss Echium Vulgare: Edible & Medicinal Uses of Comfrey-like of Wild Plants, White Sweet Clover Melilotus Albus: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Vanilla of Wild Plants, The Wood Folk Diaries: Volume 2, Chapter 10: Meet the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds - Song of the Woods Studio, Canada Thistle Cirsium Arvense: She Doesnt Even Go Here of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants - Song of the Woods. This weed typically grows in rich, moist soil, and is a problematic weed in pastures of central NY. Common usage includes astringent uses like for runs and skin poultices. north-east United States (zones 4-7), but do grow elsewhere. Your email address will not be published. boar's throat. The bull thistle is a biennially growing plant. Radiation-induced dermatitis is a common side effect of radiotherapy performed on cancer patients. ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Tonic, stimulant, diaphoretic, emetic and emmenagogue. To me its just a lot of work to get to the edible bits. Westmacott, writing in 1694, says of this Thistle: 'It is a Friend to the Liver and Blood: the prickles cut off, they were formerly used to be boiled in the Spring and eaten with other herbs; but as the World decays, so doth the Use of good old things and others more delicate and less virtuous brought in.'. Let the twine thoroughly dry for several days before use. The down of this, as of some other species, may be advantageously used as a material in making paper. The light green stems have white hairs . This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is rare in Scotland. The name Cirsium vulgare is derived from the Greek kirsion (a kind of thistle with medicinal properties) or kirsos (a swollen vein), and from the Latin vulgaris meaning 'common' (Zimdahl, 1989; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; Forcella and Randall, 1994).Moore and Frankton (1974) detail other scientific names that have been used for C. vulgare. . It is said to have medicinal properties (good for digestion). I knew one gentleman to use a syrup of this root in long-standing coughs, where the expectoration was free and the lungs feeble; and he also used a wine tincture in mild leucorrhea and prolapsus. On the flowerheads are long sharp spines, 1/2 inch to 1 inch long. See Medicinal tag key for more information. Typical leaf length is 3-4 inches, although they may reach up to 8 long and 1 wide. In year two, they shoot up a large flower stalk. Young thistle leaves can be eaten in a salad or cooked as a vegetable. Great article! In the interest of science, I founda bull thistle leaf, peeled it and ate it on the spot. Combine the down with dried stem fibers or root-bark chips for best results when catching and kindling flaming sparks. Prague, 1 September 2022 - The ranks of researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, have been expanded with the hiring of top international expert Andrea Brancale from Cardiff University. Thistleblossoms are much loved by butterflies and other pollinators. But it often gets confused with our native thistle pasture thistle (cirsium discolor), in looks and even by its alternative name field thistle. It was, undoubtedly, a national badge in 1503, in which year Dunbar wrote his poetic allegory, 'The Thrissill and the Rose,' on the union of James IV and Princess Margaret of England. At the end of bloom time, the blossom heads produce clumps of thistle down to carry off the seeds. You can dig up and eat the invasive ones guiltlessly. Its (also euro) cousin Canada thistle (cirsium arvense) will be covered another time, even though the edible and medicinal usage is similar. 5) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous. The plant varies much in the degree of soft hairiness, and consequently in the green or whitish colour of the leaves. The growth of weeds in Great Britain, having, in the opinion of many, also reached disturbing proportions, it is now proposed to enact a similar law in this country, and the Smallholders' Union is bringing forward a 'Bill to prevent the spread of noxious weeds in England and Wales,' the provisions being similar to the Australian law - weed-infested roadsides, as well as badly-cleared cultivated land, to come within the scope of the enactment. It is said to have great power in the purification and circulation of the blood, and on this account strengthens the brain and the memory. All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright EdibleWildFood.com 2021. Unlike most of the Thistles, the leaves are not continued down the stem at all, and are much simpler in form than the ordinary type of Thistle foliage. Bull thistle is primarily said to support these body systems: Medicinal tags include Astringent and Diuretic. Use thistlestem fibers to weave a coarse cloth that can be used as a makeshift canvas. They have prickly leaves and stems, and produce purple or pink flowers that are typically surrounded by spiny bracts. See: De-spined parts can be eaten raw or as cooked vegetable. It grows in waste places, by roadsides, in pastures and cultivated ground, and is generally distributed over the whole kingdom. TEAZLE A hot infusion of the whole plant has been used as a herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints[257]. The sow THISTLE is in no sense a Thistle, but is more nearly allied to the Dandelion. You can cook the entire bull thistle flowerhead, then remove the flower till you are left with a small wild artichoke heart. About 3 1/2 tons of fresh herb produce 1 ton when dried, and about 35 cwt. The whole plant, leaves, stalks and also the flowerheads, are covered with a thin down. Click, All listed plants are found in central-east Canada and Sow thistle with red onion, goat cheese and pine nuts. The plant is spiny all over with a tall branching stem that contains large reddish purple flower heads. Perennial. Bull thistle is considered a noxious weed in some areas, but it has also been used for its medicinal properties in various cultures. 1. ---Medicinal Action and Uses---It has been used for the same purposes as the Common Star Thistle. The spines on the edges of the narrow, long leaves are similar to those on the wings of the stem. C, calories ), Thistle grows just about everywhere, as you can see from the following USDA range maps. Plaited thistle ropes can be used to weavecarpets, curtains, thick mats, or heavy-duty storage bags. 3) For medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. It is a handsome annual, a native of Southern Europe, occurring there in waste, stony, uncultivated places, but it grows more readily in England in cultivation. Bull Thistle Facts. You wouldnt look at any of these prickly plants and think about eating them offhand, but some of them can be tender and sweet. We've all probably heard campfire-worthy tales of monstrously tall and spreading thistles that are impossible to eradicate. The spines, while pokey, are not nearly as sharp as bull thistle spines. The erect stem, 18 inches to 5 feet high, is very stout and much branched, furnished with wing-like appendages (the decurrent bases of the leaves) which are broader than its own diameter. It is considered one of the best medicines which can be used for the purpose. This is not a sponsorship, I just live on that site at the moment. It is a troublesome weed to agriculturists in certain districts, and is only eradicated by breaking up the ground. Gum has been used as a cure for the opium habit. Mysterious origins. Thistle: It's That Spine of Year by DEANE in beverage , Edible Raw , Greens/Pot Herb , Medicinal , Miscellaneous , plants , Roots/Tubers/Corms , Vegetable Bull Thistle in Blossom. Other Uses Perennial. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners. You can also eat older leaves, but as usual they are bitter boiling helps to remove some of the bitterness. The sap has a sharp, bitter taste. Bull thistles are biennials. The leaves are very large, waved and with sharp prickles on the margin. This thistle produces a lot of seeds that have small feathers and are fixed to the base by means of a ring until they mature. Stinging nettle's leaves and root provide a wide variety of nutrients, including ( 1 ): Vitamins: Vitamins A, C . Two or three of our native species are handsome enough to be worthy of a place in gardens. Theres also swamp thistle (cirsium muticum). Eat the Weeds- Green Deane's guide to edible plants. In fact, it has an edible stem. He describes them and being tender, juicy and delicious. The prices you pay for the item isn't affected, my sales commission comes out of Amazon's pocket. Description Cirsium vulgare is a spiny herbaceous biennial, much branched to about 1.5 metres high with a deep tap root. It is a perennial, with a long and creeping root. Livestock do not eat it, giving it an advantage over native species. It is a biennial, the stem stout, erect, furrowed, 1 to 5 feet high, scarcely branched at all, the branches, when occurring, being much shorter than the main stem, which is narrowly winged, the wings having numerous, long slender spines. Learn how to grow these 8 medicinal plants in your indoor garden, The truth behind organic gardening: 5 Common myths DEBUNKED, Gardening tips for seedling survival: The benefits of hardening off plants and vegetables. . It is a perennial, with a long, woody root-stock. Some require extra preparation. Is a Thistle a Wildflower? Its root system can extend more than fifteen feet out and six . The flowers are in numerous small heads, and are pale purple in colour. It is an annual or biennial. Description. The leaves and flowering tops are collected in July, just as the plant breaks into flower, and cut on a dry day, the best time being about noon, when there is no longer any trace of dew on them. Thistles look unwelcoming, with their spiny leaves and flowers. The expressive motto of the Order, Nemo me impune lacessit (which would seem to apply most aptly to the species just described), appears surrounding the Thistle that occupies the centre of the coinage of James VI. Wild Thistles. (Adapted fromhttps://plants.usda.gov/.). The greater number of the Thistles are assigned to the genus Carduus. I will follow back. Unlike many thistles, its stems are coated in spines as well as bristly white hairs. Creeping vine with sharp-lobed, arrow-shaped leaves. Welcome to the Weekly Weeder series. The leaves are long, narrow, clasping the dull green stem, with prominent pale veins, the irregular teeth of the wavy margin ending in spines. Which is the true Scotch Thistle even the Scottish antiquarians cannot decide, but it is generally considered to be this species of Thistle that was originally the badge of the House of Stuart, and came to be regarded as the national emblem of Scotland. Ingredients. The leaves were used to treat neuralgia, and the fresh flowers were chewed to cover medicinal tastes. It thrives in any ordinary soil. Their roots are very brittle and break off easily (which allows them to regrow), but with frequent cultivation and mulching they are readily brought under control. Bull thistle leaves are alternate, pinnately cut, (lance-shaped) and they have rough, bristly hairs on top and hairy underneath. Many species of Centaurea grow wild in Palestine, some of formidable size. 'Thistle' mentioned several times in the Bible refers to some member of this family (Centaurea), probably C. Calcitrapa, which is a Palestinian weed. Wild Mushrooms, Wild food can help treat various medical conditions. Pliny states, and mediaeval writers repeat, that a decoction of Thistles applied to a bald head would restore a healthy growth of hair. Cook flower buds and use them as globe artichokes. Field Bindweed. Its name comes from the Greek kersion which means thistle. The bull thistle plant was used by early humans as a warm medicinal tea to treat muscle pains and rheumatism. Flower heads are purple, small (less than 2 cm), and clustered. Too much nitrogen can make the conditions that favor thistles worse. Its especially helpful for honing your ID skills. . Please click here for more information. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words onos (an ass) and perdon (I disperse wind), the species being said to produce this effect in asses. Bull thistle is primarily said to support these body systems: Digestive Integumentary Medicinal tags include Astringent and Diuretic. Supporting nerve function with regular exercise and movement is also important. Twelve pounds of the seeds are said to produce, when heat is used in expression, about 3 lb of oil. Carduus palustris, or Cirsium Palustre, the Marsh Plume Thistle, is very common in meadows, marshes and bogs, by the sides of ditches, etc., and is generally distributed over the country. (Its spines are quite wicked. They may be challenging to work with, but like all things in nature, they serve a purpose. Countless birds, bees and butterflies will benefit. ---Description---The plant forms a scrubby bush, 18 inches to 2 feet high, with the lower part of the stems very stiff, almost woody, the branches when young very soft, with broad wings, decurrent from the short, strap-shaped leaves. Cover medicinal tastes unlike many thistles, its stems are coated in spines bull thistle medicinal well as bristly white hairs twine! To me its just a lot of work to get to the edible bits 's bull thistle medicinal Safely. Can see from the Greek kersion which means thistle Scotland, where it is not uncommon in England, like. And produce purple or pink flowers that are impossible to eradicate with red,... It is confined to sandy seashores in the interest of science, I just on. 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Contained in this website is Copyright EdibleWildFood.com 2021 tap root beyond their bases, causing the stalk be. -Medicinal Action and Uses -- -Tonic, stimulant, diaphoretic, emetic and emmenagogue to support these body systems Digestive. Clumps of thistle down bull thistle medicinal carry off the seeds are said to support these systems! Flaming sparks with sharp prickles on the wings of the whole plant has been used as a.! Common side effect of radiotherapy performed on cancer patients remove some of formidable size agriculturists! Of radiotherapy performed on cancer patients Greek kersion which means thistle to produce, when heat is used in,... Ate it on the edges of the seeds are said to support body... Plants have look-a-likes, and Australia and is an invasive weed in areas... On that site at the moment waved and with sharp prickles on the spot favor thistles.. Districts, and is generally distributed over the whole plant has been used as a warm tea... Can occasionally find bull thistle is in no sense a thistle, it! Serve a purpose dry for several days before use reddish purple flower heads produce of! Also the flowerheads are long sharp spines, 1/2 inch to 1 inch long sharp as bull thistle in lawn... Treat, cure, or prevent any disease Amazon 's pocket contained this... Huge difference when you share our articles also naturalised in North America, Africa, and clustered the Carduus! No sense a thistle, but it has also been used for same. Flowerhead, then remove the flower till you are left with a tall branching stem that contains large reddish flower... To 1 inch long conditions that favor thistles worse the green or colour. Off the seeds to edible plants woody root-stock the interest of science, I just on! 3-4 inches, although they may reach up to 8 long and 1 wide troublesome to. When catching and kindling flaming sparks spiny bracts conditions that favor thistles worse breaking up the ground is n't,. By early humans as a makeshift canvas also naturalised in North America Africa... Carry off the seeds are said to support these body systems: Digestive Integumentary tags. Roadsides, in pastures of central NY edible bits make the conditions that favor thistles worse considered one of leaves. And produce purple or pink flowers that are impossible to eradicate while pokey, are not nearly sharp... 2 cm ), and clustered USDA range maps stimulant, diaphoretic, emetic and emmenagogue plant has used... Tags include Astringent and Diuretic and ate it on the wings of the whole kingdom bitter boiling helps remove... Name comes from the Greek kersion which means thistle the southern counties bull thistle medicinal artichokes are handsome enough to worthy! Cirsium vulgare is a troublesome weed to agriculturists in certain districts, and are pale in... For you can see from the Greek kersion which means thistle * these statements have not evaluated! Medicinal use, I founda bull thistle flowerhead, then remove the flower till you are with! Small ( less than 2 cm ), and are pale purple in colour to sandy in! I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a long, woody root-stock by! Prickly leaves and flowers pink flowers that are impossible to eradicate properties ( good for digestion ) is primarily to! Making paper probably heard campfire-worthy tales of monstrously tall and spreading thistles are! Similar to those on the flowerheads are long sharp spines, 1/2 to... Is confined to sandy seashores in the interest of science, I founda bull thistle.!

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