| Cirsium vulgare | |
|---|---|
_03.jpg) | |
| Plant in flower,Joure, Netherlands | |
 | |
| Seedhead | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Cirsium |
| Species: | C. vulgare |
| Binomial name | |
| Cirsium vulgare | |
| Subspecies and varieties[1] | |
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Synonymy
| |
Cirsium vulgare, thespear thistle,bull thistle, orcommon thistle, is a species of theAsteraceae genusCirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N),Western Asia (east to theYenisei Valley), andnorthwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains).[3][4][5][6] It is alsonaturalised in North America, Africa, and Australia and is aninvasive weed in several regions.[7][8][9] It is the national flower ofScotland.
The plant provides a great deal ofnectar forpollinators. It was rated in the top 10 for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in aUK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.[10] Marsh thistle,Cirsium palustre, was ranked in first place while this thistle was ranked in sixth place. It also was a top producer of nectar sugar in another study in Britain, ranked third with a production per floral unit of (2300 ± 400 μg).[11]
It is a tallbiennial or short-livedmonocarpicthistle, forming arosette ofleaves and ataproot up to 70 cm (28 in) long in the first year, and aflowering stem 1–1.5 m (3 ft 4 in - 4 ft 11 in) tall in the second (rarely third or fourth) year. It can grow up to 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) tall.[12] It sometimes will function as an annual, flowering in the first year. The stem is winged, with numerous longitudinal spine-tipped wings along its full length. The leaves are stoutly spined, grey-green, deeply lobed; the basal leaves grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long,[12] with smaller leaves on the upper part of the flower stem; the leaf lobes are spear-shaped (from which the English name derives). Theinflorescence is 2.5–5 centimetres (0.98–1.97 in) diameter, pink-purple, with all theflorets of similar form (no division into disc and ray florets). Theseeds are 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long, with a downypappus, which assists in wind dispersal. As in other species ofCirsium (but unlike species in the related genusCarduus), the pappus hairs are feathery with fine side hairs.[13][14]
Spear thistle is often aruderal species, colonising baredisturbed ground, but also persists well on heavilygrazed land as it is unpalatable to most grazing animals.[14] Nitrogen-rich soils help increase its proliferation.[15] The flowers are a rich nectar source used by numerous pollinating insects, includinghoney bees,wool-carder bees, and manybutterflies.[16] The seeds are eaten bygoldfinches,linnets andgreenfinches.[17] The seeds are dispersed by wind, mud, water, and possibly also byants; they do not show significant long-term dormancy, most germinating soon after dispersal and only a few lasting up to four years in thesoil seed bank.[18] Seed is also often spread by human activity such ashay bales.[14]
Spear thistle is designated an "injurious weed" under the UKWeeds Act 1959,[19] and anoxious weed in Australia[18][20][21] and in nine US states.[22] Spread is only by seed, not by root fragments as in the relatedcreeping thistleC. arvense. It is best cleared from land by hoeing and deep cutting of the taproot before seeds mature; regular cultivation also prevents its establishment.[14]
Despite this label, the plant has beneficial qualities beyond its very highnectar production. It produces seeds eaten by theAmerican goldfinch, down from seed pods that is used by those birds fornesting material. However, despite this servinggeneralist pollinators and animals, it is highly recommended to plantnative thistles and other plants as it can wreak havoc on natural ecosystems.
Common names include bull thistle,[14][23] Scots, Scottish, or Scotch thistle, and common thistle.[23]
The stems can be peeled (removing their spiny surfaces) and then steamed or boiled.[12] The tap roots can be eaten raw or cooked, but are only palatable on young thistles that have not yet flowered.[24] The dried florets steeped in water are used in rural Italy for curdling goats' milk in preparation for making cheese.[citation needed]. In Iran, cleaned stems are used in the dish Khoresh-e-Kangar (thistle stem stew).[25]
The plant features in some Scottish ceremonies such as the "Riding of the Marches", held annually inLangholm in July. The 1992 specimen measured six feet in length.[26]
Spear thistle is also the emblem ofNewton Regis in England.[26]
Cirsium vulgare Flower language[27]
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