Scotch thistle, Heraldic thistle, Cotton thistle
Onopordum acanthium
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A herb. The young plant is a ring of leaves near the ground. A mature plant is 1.5 m high. The stem is round in cross section. It is hollow and has a mass of fine white hairs. The plant is woolly white in appearance. The leaves have lobes and also have strong spines. The flowering stems are leafy. The leaf blades continue down the stem. The flowers are reddish to purple. They are surrounded by many spiny bracts. These end in long orange spines.
There are about 40 Onopordum species. They are thistle of the Mediterranean region.
Where it is found
It grows in temperate places. It grows in drier places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan
How it is used for food
The receptacle of the flowers and the tender stalks are peeled and boiled and eaten. An oil from the seeds is eaten. Young roots are peeled and used in salads. They are cooked. The basal leaves are peeled and used in stews.
Edible parts
Flowers, stems, stalks, leaves, root, oil
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. They can easily become self sown and a problem.
Its other names
Local names
Alcachofa gigante, Bogancs, Cardo blanco, Cardo borriqueno, Cardo pampa, Cardo peludo, Gangal, Pet d'ason