Cat thistle, Japanese thistle
Cirsium japonicum

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a thistle plant. It grows 0.9-1.5 m tall and spreads 0.6-1.2 m wide. The leaves are oval and 8-20 cmlong by 3-8 cm wide. They have spines. It keeps branching into several erect slender stems. These end in 2.5-5 cm wide flower heads. These are pink or purple.

There are about 150-250 Cirsium species. They grow in temperate regions.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. It can grow on sandy shores. In China it grows on the edges of forests and wasteland between 400-2,100 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Young leaves and roots are eaten. They are used as a potherb. They are stewed with meat. The roots are used for a sweet drink made from fermented rice.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Baimaci, Che pei a gong, Eonggeongkwi, No-azami

Synonyms

Cnicus japonicus Maxim.;