Taurian thistle, Bull cottonthistle
Onopordum tauricum

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a thistle that takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. It grows 2 m tall. The leaves are light green and have spines. They are 25 cm long and have triangle shaped lobes. The flowers are in a group of flower heads. Each one can be 7 cm wide. The flowers are tube shaped and pink to purple.

Where it is found

It is a temperate or Mediterranean climate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Europe, North America, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The stem is eaten in salads.

Edible parts

Stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Esek dikeni

Synonyms

Onopordum argolicum Boiss.; amd others