Musk Thistle, Nodding thistle, Milk thistle
Carduus nutans
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
It is a thistle. An erect herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2 m high. The leaves are grey-green. They have deep lobes and are spiny. The leaves continue down the stems as wings. The flowers are large and red or purple and drooping. They are 5-6.5 cm across. The flowers are at the ends of branches.
There are about 90 Carduus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows easily on sandy sea shores. It needs an open sunny position. It is drought and frost resistant. In western China it grows in croplands and grasslands between 500-2,300 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain (country/location of origin), Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Russia, Siberia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA
How it is used for food
The pith of the stem is eaten after peeling and boiling. The dried flowers can be used to curdle milk.
Edible parts
Leaves, stalks, flowers, seed, stem
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seed.
Its other names
Local names
Buck thistle, Cardo, Deve dikeni, Esek dikeni, Gulibadaward, Kangal, Kangal dikeni, Kimasti bodak, Sekertikani, Spine de criste