Perennial thistle, Creeping thistle
Cirsium arvense

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a thistle which keeps growing from year to year. It grows up to 1 m high. It has creeping underground stolons. The flowering stems are branched and erect. They are furrowed and can be smooth or cottony. The leaves near the base are oblong to sword shaped. They have lobes along the sides. They are narrowed towards the base. The leaves are white and woolly underneath and have spines around the edge. The flowers occur singly or as 2-4 together and are purple. They are at the ends of the upper branches.

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

Where it is found

It grows in temperate and Mediterranean regions. In China it grows between 100-4,300 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Croatia, Estonia, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, Georgia, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Russia, South America, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves are used in vegetable soups and stews. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The young shoots and flower stalks are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. It has been used to curdle milk. The white fleshy part of the stems is eaten raw after peeling. The roots are eaten raw or cooked. They are also dried as a coffee substitute.

Edible parts

Root, shoot, leaves, stems, seeds, roots - coffee

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Calcida, Californian thistle, Canadian thistle, Cardo cundidor, Choussio, Ciji, Da khawarak azghai, Gaida kande, Harul, Horal, Hemirkesen, tikani, Honghuamiao, K'akhoura, Kandiara, Kelendor, Kerbes, Koygocerten, Koygocuren, Kund, Leeh, Leh, Lehi, Leu, Liah, Nara, Ohakas, Ohtja, Perticone, Shchipitsa, Stioppone, Stramontano, Tetri nari, Tovis, Tuvis, Wanvahri

Synonyms

Carduus arvensis (L.) Robson; Cephalonoplos segetum (Bunge) Kitam.; Cnicus arvensis Hoffm.; and several others