Thistles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strictly speaking, in a botanical context, thistles are members of the genera Afrocarduus, Carduus, Carlina, Carthamus, Cirsium, Cousinia, Galactites, Notobasis, Onopordum, Picnomon, Silybum, and others, all of the composite family (Asteraceae). On this page I also include certain other spiny, thistle-like plants of the composite family, namely Cynara (artichoke) and Echinops (globethistle).

In composites, the inflorescence consists of many individual flowers, called florets, which are grouped densely together to form a flower-like structure, the flowerhead, technically called the capitulum. The flowerhead is surrounded by an involucre, consisting of densely packed green bracts, often erroneously called a calyx. The central disc florets are symmetric, and the corolla is fused into a tube. The outer ray florets are asymmetric, the corolla having one large lobe, which is often erroneously called a petal.

In Japanese, thistles are often called azami, derived from azamuku (‘to deceive’), because the flowerheads are beautiful, but stem and leaves are filled with vicious spines.

 

The last part of the generic name is explained below, under Carduus.

 

It is restricted to Mount Elgon on the border between Uganda and Kenya, Mount Kenya, and Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in northern Tanzania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name commemorates German botanist Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schimper (1804-1878), who spent more than 40 years in Ethiopia collecting plants. He probably discovered more undescribed African plant species than any other botanist.

 

 

 

 

 

Most species have dark purple flowers, but occasionally individuals with mauve or white flowers are seen. They only have disc florets, no ray florets.

The generic name is the classical Latin word for thistle, probably derived from the Sanskrit kasati (‘to scratch’), alluding to the spines.

 

It is native from western and northern Europe across the Middle East, Kazakhstan, and Tibet to China, Korea, and Japan. It grows in a variety of habitats, including open grasslands, roadsides, pastures, and disturbed areas. It has been introduced to many other areas, including North America, where it is often regarded as an invasive species.

The specific name is an alternative, Latinized spelling form of Ancient Greek akanthodes (‘spiny’), derived from akantha (‘spine’) and odes (‘full of’), of course referring to the very spiny foliage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘like silver’, alluding to the white spots on the leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

It is typically to about 1.8 m tall, but may occasionally be up to 3 m. The leaves are more or less lobed with weak spines along the edge, and the stem may be spiny or smooth. It grows in open areas, such as grasslands, pastures, and along roads.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘curly’ or ‘wavy’, alluding to the leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stem is usually to 50 cm tall, sometimes up to 90 cm, slightly arching, branched, smooth or sometimes winged with thorns, upper part mostly without leaves, thorns, and wings. Leaves are very variable, hairless, sessile, blade entire or pinnate, sometimes toothed.

This species differs from other members of the genus in having only a single purplish-red flowerhead, to 3 cm across, at the end of each branch. Initially, it is erect, later often nodding. Involucral bracts are spreading, unlike the rather similar Cirsium tuberosum.

It is partial to rocky limestone areas, from the lower valleys up to an altitude of about 3,000 m, distributed from the Pyrenees via the Alps to the northern Balkan Peninsula and the Carpathians.

The specific name means something like ‘to deprive of flowers’ – indeed a strange name, as it has lots of flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is native from Afghanistan eastwards to western Nepal, growing in open areas at altitudes between 1,500 and 4,500 m

The specific name commemorates Danish botanist, geographer, and anthropologist Lennart Edelberg (1915-1981), who participated in three expeditions to Afghanistan, in 1948-1949, 1953-1954, and 1964.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It grows in open areas, preferably on disturbed ground, such as fallow fields, pastures, landslides, abandoned plots, and along roads, from the lowlands up to an elevation of about 2,500 m, preferably on neutral or acidic soils.

In colder regions, this plant is a biennial, requiring 2 years to complete a reproductive cycle, overwintering as a rosette. It may grow to more than 2.5 m tall, stem often woolly, winged, heavily armed with green or whitish spines, to 1 cm long, less armed above, where it may be completely thornless. All leaves are very spiny, basal ones tapering to winged stalks, blade to 4 cm long, once or twice pinnately lobed, stem leaves stalkless, shorter. Flowerheads are borne singly at the end of the stem or on spreading branches, to 4 cm across, initially upright, later often nodding. The involucre is hemispheric, to 6 cm long and 7 cm wide, with lanceolate to ovate, very stiff, spreading or reflexed bracts, to 1 cm long. Disc florets are very numerous, purplish-red, to 2.8 cm long.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘nodding’, referring to the often nodding flowerheads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The spines of this plant are rather soft. It has a sturdy stem, varying in height between 40 cm and 1.6 m, widely branched towards the apex, winged, with fine spines along the edge of the ribs. The leaves are all stem leaves, ovate or lanceolate, soft and curly, with fine spines along the margin, the lower ones to 35 cm long and 20 cm wide, gradually getting smaller up the stem.

The flowerheads are densely clustered at the apex of stem and branches, 2-5 together, to 2.5 cm across, disc florets violet-purple.

The specific name is derived from the Latin personatus (‘masked’), presumably alluding to the very dark involucral bracts.

 

 

 

 

 

The flowerhead has several rows of bracts, of which the outer ones are leaf-like with spine-like tips, whereas the inner rows have ray-like, whitish or yellowish bracts, which are hygroscopic. In dry weather they are spread out fan-like, announcing to bees and hover flies that food is available here, whereas in damp weather they fold up to protect the true florets in the centre of the flowerhead. In folklore, this was seen as a sign of forthcoming rain.

The generic name was given in honour of Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, King of Spain, and Lord of the Netherlands, Karl V (1500-1558), also called Charlemagne or Charles the Great, in Latin Carolus. As legend has it, he used the root of Carlina acaulis (below) to cure disease among his soldiers.

 

Divided into 4 subspecies, it is distributed from the Pyrenees eastwards to the Balkans, and thence northwards to Poland and Ukraine. The nominate subspecies is quite common in the Pyrenees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This plant is distributed in the major part of central and southern Europe, eastwards to Belarus and Ukraine, with an isolated population in the Caucasus. It grows in dry grasslands, preferably on calcareous soil, from the valleys up to an altitude of about 2,800 m.

The rhizome contains a number of essential oils and was formerly used as a diuretic and to treat colds. Young buds of the flowerheads can be cooked and eaten, similar to artichokes (Cynara cardunculus, see below), which earned it the nickname hunter’s bread.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘stemless’, from a (‘without’) and caulis (‘stem’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This plant is endemic to Gran Canaria, usually found in stony areas at elevations between 300 and 1,000 m in the southern and south-western parts of the island. At the highest altitudes, it hybridizes with C. texedae (below).

In some locations, its flowers are mixed with the classic goat rennet to curdle milk to make cheese. It has also been used for dyeing. Medicinally, an infusion of the leaves and flowers is used as a mild purgative and to relieve muscle spasms.

It is threatened due to overgrazing by goats, as they browse on tender shoots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is native to almost the entire Europe and the Middle East, eastwards to Ukraine, Iran, and Turkmenistan. It has also been introduced to eastern United States. It grows in calcareous areas, on hillsides, and in grasslands and dunes.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘common’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name can be traced back to classical Syriac qurtema‎, the name of the safflower (C. tinctorius), originally from qartem (‘to cut off gently’), alluding to the picking of the florets of this species, which are used for dyeing. The common name presumably refers to these plants being used as distaffs, i.e. a device to keep the unspun fibres from being entangled before they were spun into thread.

 

It is native from the British Isles eastwards to Belarus and Kazakhstan, southwards to northern Africa, Iran, and the Himalaya, growing in dry areas, including fallow fields and waste places.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘woolly’, referring to the densely woolly lower stem.

Some authorities place this plant in the genus Phonus.

 

 

 

 

 

These plants are very similar to thistles of the genus Carduus (above), but differ by their seed hairs forming a plume, whereas seed hairs of members of Carduus do not form a plume. The flowerheads only have disc florets, no ray florets.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek kirsion, according to Greek physician, pharmacologist, and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides (died 90 A.D.) the name of a kind of thistle, derived from kirsos (‘swollen vein’), alluding to its usage against swollen veins.

 

It is widespread in the major part of Europe, eastwards to the Baltic states and Romania, growing in grasslands with short vegetation, mainly on calcareous soil.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘stemless’, from a (‘without’) and caulis (‘stem’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It grows in open areas and is a most troublesome weed in fields in most cooler parts of the world. As far back as 1863, Danish research showed that a large creeping thistle can produce about 80 flowerheads in one season, and as flowerheads on average contain 120 flowers, one single plant is able to produce about 10,000 seeds per year! It also spreads via underground stems. Its invasiveness is described in depth on the page Nature: Invasive species.

In Nepal, a paste of the root is used for indigestion.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘growing in fields’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This plant is widespread in Europe, found from the British Isles, Germany, and Poland southwards to the Mediterranean and Turkey, growing in open habitats, including grasslands, shrubberies, woodlands, and disturbed areas.

The young leaves may be eaten raw, and young stems are also edible after being soaked in water to remove their bitterness. The flower buds can be cooked, similar to artichokes (Cynara cardunculus, see below), and an edible oil is extracted from the seeds.

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek erion (‘wool’) and phoros (‘bearing’), alluding to the dense cover of woolly hairs in the involucre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is widespread in southern and eastern Europe, found from the French Massif Central across the Alps eastwards to the Tatra Mountains, the Dinaric Alps, Greece, Ukraine, and European Russia. In the Alps, it is found at altitudes between 400 and 2,000 m.

The epithet melancholy alludes to the nodding flowerheads, which, apart from the colour, resemble those of the melancholy thistle (below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This plant grows in grasslands, shrubberies, open woodland, and along roads and streams. It is native from northern Europe, including Scotland, eastwards across the major part of Siberia to Kazakhstan, Sinkiang, and Mongolia. It also occurs in montane areas of central and southern Europe, and in the Caucasus, and also a few places in Iceland and southern Greenland.

Formerly, this species was considered a possible cure for sadness. English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) says that it, being drank in wine “expels superfluous melancholy out of the body and makes a man as merry as a cricket,” adding “Dioscorides* saith, the root borne about one doth the like, and removes all diseases of melancholy: Modern writers laugh at him: Let them laugh that win: my opinion is, that it is the best remedy against all melancholy diseases that grows.”

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘like Helenium‘, alluding to the likeness of some leaf forms to those of the basal leaves of elecampane (Inula helenium, see Plants: Plants in folklore and poetry).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowerheads are terminal, to 4 cm across, 2-6 densely clustered, surrounded or even sometimes covered by large yellowish bracts. Florets pale yellow, sometimes tinged pink.

The cabbage thistle thrives in wet meadows, along streams, and in humid forests, often forming large stands with the help of underground stems. It is native from western Europe eastwards to western Siberia. In montane areas it is restricted to the lower areas, occasionally found up to an altitude of about 2,000 m.

The specific name is derived from the Latin holus, genitive holeris (‘vegetable’), alluding to the young stems and leaves being edible. The common name also refers to this usage. In Japan, it is still being cultivated as a vegetable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is distributed in the entire Europe, eastwards to central Siberia and Kazakhstan, growing in wet areas, including marshes, humid fields, and along streams. It has also been introduced to southern Canada and northern United States, where it has become invasive in many areas.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘growing in marshes’, derived from palud (‘marsh’).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is found in the entire Alps and the northern part of the Balkans, growing in dry, rocky areas at altitudes between 1,100 and 3,000 m.

Previously, young shoots were cooked as spinach or used in soup, and they were also used as pig feed.

A quite similar species, Bertoloni’s thistle (C. bertolonii), is found in the Apennines. It was previously regarded as a subspecies of spiniest thistle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It occurs in open areas, from Afghanistan eastwards along the Himalaya to northern Vietnam, at altitudes between 750 and 3,900 m.

In Nepal, the tender root is eaten fresh or in salads. A paste of the root is used for stomach ache and urinal disorders, and juice of the root for fever.

The specific name is derived from the Latin veru (‘javelin’, ‘dart’), naturally alluding to the spines.

Some authorities place this species in the genus Lophiolepis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spear thistle is biennial. During the first year, it produces a leaf rosette, which overwinters and grows into a stem, up to 1.5 m tall, the following summer, displaying an abundance of beautiful red flowerheads. Despite its formidable armour of spines, this plant has been elected as the national flower of Scotland, hence another common name, Scottish thistle. Other lovers of the spear thistle include honey bees, bumble bees, and butterflies, which feed on the nectar, and various finches, including goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), linnet (Linaria cannabina), and greenfinch (Chloris chloris), which greatly appreciate the seeds.

All pictures below are from Denmark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Nepal, juice of the root is taken for fever, and also dripped into sore eyes. A paste of the root is used for inflamed stomach, juice of the plant for constipation.

The specific name was given in honour of Danish physician and botanist Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854), who studied the Indian and Himalayan flora in the early 1800s. His career is described in depth on the page Plants: Himalayan flora 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It grows in grasslands and open stony areas at elevations between 3,000 and 4,300 m, distributed from Afghanistan eastwards to western Nepal and south-western Tibet.

The specific name was given in honour of British surgeon and botanist Thomas Thomson (1817-1878), who assisted in writing the first volume of Flora Indica.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is a Latinized form of Ancient Greek kinara, the classical term for artichoke.

 

A stout plant, growing to 1.5 m tall, with deeply lobed, heavily spiny leaves, to 50 cm long, with yellow spines to 3.5 cm long. The flowerheads are violet-purple or blue, to 6 cm across.

The specific name is Latin, derived from cardus (‘thistle’) and the suffix unculus, which expresses diminutive forms of nouns, thus ‘small thistle’ – not a very appropriate name for this large plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These plants are characterized by their thistle-like appearance, but are easily identified by the spherical flowerhead, which resembles a spiny ball. This inflorescence gave rise to the generic name, derived from the Greek ekhinos (‘hedgehog’) and ops (‘head’).

 

The numerous leaves, to 20 cm long, very much resemble thistle leaves. The florets are all alike, to 15 mm long, white or pale blue, with long, spine-tipped involucral bracts.

Medicinally, the powdered leaves are used to cure jaundice, a paste of the leaves is applied to septic wounds, and the seeds are taken as a tonic.

The specific name is Latin, derived from cornu (‘horn’) and gero (‘I carry’), thus ‘horned’. It probably refers to the spines in the inflorescence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is native to central and southern Europe, eastwards to central Siberia and Mongolia, southwards to Spain, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

 

 

 

 

 

The leaves are pinnately divided into very narrow linear lobes, each one with a slender, but very hard spine at the tip. The globular flowerhead has an abundance of blue, lavender, or white disc florets.

This species is harvested from the wild, mainly for medicinal use for a variety of ailments. The tender part of the flower is edible, similar to an artichoke (Cynara cardunculus, see above). The plant yields a gum that is used as chewing gum. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘very spiny indeed’, referring to the strong spines on the leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek gala (‘milk’), and the suffix ites, which forms adjectives, thus ‘contains milk’. It does not, however, refer to the sap of these plants, but to the white markings on the leaves.

 

It is distributed around the western part of the Mediterranean, from Portugal to Greece, and in north-western Africa, growing in dry habitats, stony or sandy areas, fallow fields, and waste places.

Young shoots and leaves are edible.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘having a mass of hairs’, alluding to the downy stem and underside of the leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

It grows to about 1 m tall, leaves spirally arranged on the stem, deeply lobed, grey-green or dark green with white veins and very sharp spines on lobes and apex. Flowerheads to 2 cm across, bracts numerous, spiny, ray florets absent, disc florets reddish-purple.

In Crete, the tender shoots are peeled and eaten raw.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek notos (‘spine’ – anatomical) and vasis (‘base’), hence ‘based on the spine’. This strange name alludes to the compressed achenes attached by the base of their upper side. The specific name refers to Syria. Presumably, the type specimen was collected there.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek onos (‘donkey’) and perdo (‘to fart’). This strange name dates back to French botanist Sébastien Vaillant (1669-1722) who named the genus in 1718, referring to a claim that “these plants induce farts in the donkeys that eat them.”

 

It is native to Europe, eastwards to Kazakhstan and Xinjiang, southwards to northern Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan, but is widely naturalised elsewhere, especially in the United States and Australia.

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek akantha (‘spine’), alluding to the stiff spines along the leaf margins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stem is erect, branched, winged, and spiny, sometimes reaching a height of 2.5 m. The spiny leaves may be up to 50 cm long, shallowly or deeply pinnately lobed, with 8-10 pairs of triangular lobes, which may again be lobed. Flowerheads are several, singly at the tip of branches, more or less globular, to 7 cm across, involucre lined with broad, lanceolate or ovate spines, to 5 cm long, woolly or with cobweb-like hairs. Ray florets are absent, disc florets reddish-purple, to 3.5 cm long.

The specific name alludes to Illyria, a kingdom, which existed from about 400 to 167 B.C., in a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. In Greek mythology, Illyrius was the son of Cadmus and Harmonia, who eventually ruled Illyria and became ancestor of the Illyrians.

 

 

 

 

 

It is distributed from the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region eastwards across to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek pyknos (‘dense’ or ‘thickly’) and nomos (‘pasture’), referring to the fact that this plant is often abundant in pastures. The specific name is a Latinized form of Ancient Greek akorna, a name applied to a kind of thistle by Greek scholar and botanist Theophrastos (c. 371-287 B.C.).

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek silybos (‘tassel’ or ‘tuft’), presumably alluding to the numerous disc florets.

The stem is erect, to 2 m tall, grooved, sometimes downy, leaves oblong or lanceolate in outline, to 60 cm long, pinnately lobed, spiny, green with milk-white veins and blotches. The flowerheads, to 12 cm long, are solitary at the end of the stems. They are surrounded by stiff, triangular, spreading bracts, to 4 cm long, which have small spines along the margin and a stout yellow spine at the tip. Ray florets are absent, disc florets numerous, to 3.5 cm long, reddish-purple.

It has been cultivated as a medicinal plant for thousands of years, and in some places young parts are eaten as a vegetable.

The specific name refers to a legend that the white blotches on the leaves arose from milk that dropped from the breasts of the Virgin Mary, when she was nursing her child during the flight to Egypt. This legend gave rise to another common name of the plant, St. Mary’s thistle.