Welted thistle
Carduus crispus
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
An annual herb. It is a thistle. It grows 1.5 m high and spreads 1 m wide. The stem is erect and winged. It has spines. The leaves are narrow and have lobes. They are prickly. There are prominent veins underneath. The flowers are small and purple. There are 3 or 4 clustered together.
There are about 90 Carduus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is resistant to drought and frost. It grows on mountain slopes and by rivers between 400-3,600 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Britain (country/location of origin), Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe, Kazakhstan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia, North America, Russia, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seeds.