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Cirsium vulgare - (Savi.)Ten.

Common Name Common Thistle, Bull thistle, Dodder, Boar Thistle, Bull Thistle
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Fields, waysides, gardens and waste places to 600 metres[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Cirsium vulgare Common Thistle, Bull thistle, Dodder, Boar Thistle, Bull Thistle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cirsium_vulgare_Sturm1.jpg
Cirsium vulgare Common Thistle, Bull thistle, Dodder, Boar Thistle, Bull Thistle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Peripitus

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Purple. Main:Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Cirsium vulgare is a BIENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2 and is not frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. lanceolatum. non Hill. Carduus lanceolatus.

Habitats

 Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Oil  Root  Seed  Stem
Edible Uses: Curdling agent  Oil

Root - cooked[183]. 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[9]. The root can be dried and stored for later use[257]. 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[177, 183]. Young leaves can be soaked overnight in salt water and then cooked and eaten[183]. Another report says that they can be used in salads[9]. 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[177, 183], but smaller and even more fiddly. The dried flowers are a rennet substitute for curdling plant milks[183]. Seed - occasionally eaten roasted[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antihaemorrhoidal  Antirheumatic  Poultice

The roots have been used as a poultice and a decoction of the plant used as a poultice on sore jaws[257]. A hot infusion of the whole plant has been used as a herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints[257]. A decoction of the whole plant has been used both internally and externally to treat bleeding piles[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Oil  Paper  Tinder

A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used in making paper. The fibre is about 0.9mm long[189]. 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[189]. The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[4]. 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[212].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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[200]. Special Features:North American native, Fragrant foliage. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is fleshy. Thick or swollen - fibrous or tap root [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c[164]. A pernicious weed, it really needs no encouragement from us.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Black thistle, Bull thistle, Bur thistle, Cardo de toro, Cardo negro, Pareira brava, Spear thistle, Common thistle, Scots, Scottish, or Scotch thistle,

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Chile, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lord Howe Island, Mediterranean, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Naturalised in North America, Africa, and Australia and is an invasive weed in some areas.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
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Cirsium acaulonStemless ThistlePerennial0.3 4-8  LMHNM012
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Cirsium chinense Perennial0.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium coreanum Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM102
Cirsium dipsacolepis Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium eatoniEaton's ThistlePerennial0.5 -  LMHNDM112
Cirsium eduleEdible ThistlePerennial2.0 6-9  LMHNM302
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Cirsium hookerianumWhite ThistlePerennial1.5 -  LMHNM202
Cirsium japonicumNo-Azami, Japanese thistleBiennial/Perennial0.9 5-9  LMHNM222
Cirsium kamtschaticumKamchatka thistlePerennial1.8 0-0  LMHNM102
Cirsium lepskyle Perennial0.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium lineare Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium maackii Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium maritimum Perennial0.4 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium nipponicum Perennial1.5 -  LMHNM112
Cirsium occidentaleCobwebby Thistle, Snowy thistle, Compact cobwebby thistlePerennial1.0 8-11  LMHNDM202
Cirsium ochrocentrumYellow Spined ThistlePerennial1.5 0-0  LMHNDM222
Cirsium oleraceumCabbage ThistlePerennial1.2 -  LMHSNMWe202
Cirsium oligophyllum Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM202
Cirsium pallidumPale ThistlePerennial0.0 -  LMHNM112
Cirsium palustreMarsh ThistleBiennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe202
Cirsium pectinellum Perennial1.5 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium pendulum Biennial1.8 -  LMHNM102
Cirsium purpuratum Perennial1.0 -  LMHNM102
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Savi.)Ten.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

sue mcandrew   Fri Aug 8 2008

[email protected] Please can anyone assist me, my daughter trod on thistles with bare feet, she has very soft soles of her feet. She now has raised wounds on her feet, this happend on 28th July, and still sore today, 8th Aug 08. Is this a rare occurance, can I apply anything to her foot to ease the discomfort ? Thank you.

Robert Gergulics   Sat Apr 11 2009

Photos Here. Www.photorobg.com

www.photorobg.com

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Subject : Cirsium vulgare  
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