Syrian thistle
Notobasis syriaca

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

An annual herb.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows in dry soils. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Palestine, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The young leaves and stems are eaten raw or boiled. They are eaten with bread and goat's cheese. The stems are peeled.

Edible parts

Stem, roots, leaves, shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akcadiken, Aynbeloqe, Chawbazza, Kelbese belek, Kerbese karan, Khurfaish, Lamanna, Nerokavlos, Patsalokavlos, Piscialasinu, Sutlegen, Tuzlu gavulya, Yavankenker

Synonyms

Carduus syriacus L.; Cirsium syriacum Gaertner; Cnicus syriacus (L.) Roth; and others