Spear thistle, Common thistle, Scotch thistle
Cirsium vulgare

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a thistle. The young plant develops as a ring of leaves near the ground. The mature plant can be 1.5 m tall. It has a well developed taproot. The stems have wings along them. The stem leaves do not have stalks and are 20-25 cm long. The leaves are lobed and the lobes are divided into 4 or 5 divisions which are often rotated. The edges of the leaves are spiny. The flower head is at the top of the plant and is spiny. Often there are 3 or 4 heads. They are purple.

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

Where it is found

It grows in temperate and Mediterranean places. It grows in well-drained and fertile locations. It can grow on sand dunes and beaches. It grows in wet grasslands between 400-1,800 m above sea level in western China. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, Crete, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Easter Island, Europe, Falklands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lord Howe Island, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Is., North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Siberia, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The spines are removed and the young leaves eaten raw or cooked. They are soaked overnight in salted water. The young stems are peeled and eaten raw or cooked. The roots of young plants can be eaten raw or cooked. The young flowers are used as a substitute for rennet in curdling milk for cheesemaking. Roasted seeds can be eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, roots, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

The roots need to be harvested before the thistles flower.

Its other names

Local names

Black thistle, Bull thistle, Bur thistle, Cardo de toro, Cardo negro, Chveulebrivi nari, Khaspush, Navadni osat, Pareira brava

Synonyms

Carduus vulgaris Savi; Cirsium lanceolatum (L.) Scop.; and others