Cirsium Species

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Scientific Name: Cirsium species

Common Name(s): thistle

Edible: yes

Medicinal: no

Parts Used: root, stem

Logos 13 Aug, 2008	CAUTION--Some thistle species are poisonous.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Logos 13 Aug, 2008	Description: This plant may grow as high as 1.5 meters. Its leaves are long-pointed, deeply lobed, and prickly.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Logos 13 Aug, 2008	Habitat and Distribution: Thistles grow worldwide in dry woods and fields.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Logos 13 Aug, 2008	Edible Parts: Peel the stalks, cut them into short sections, and boil them before eating. The roots are edible raw or cooked.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Logos 13 Aug, 2008	Other Uses: Twist the tough fibers of the stems to make a strong twine.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Gasquagu 11 Jul, 2009	In most edible varieties, the leaves are also edible as a salad. Remove the spines first. They taste somewhat bitter as parsley or strong spinach. The autumn stems (and mid to late summer) contain "survival" water -- a good source until you can find a more substantial pool of potable water.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Gasquagu 11 Jul, 2009	The bulbous pod just below the flower contains the plant seeds. It will open in late autumn. The seeds are carried by a white, fluffy down, similar to dandelion seeds. This down can make a good tinder to start a fire.
Current Rating: 0.0000

Locations Found

British Columbia, Canada

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cirsium | thistle

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As seen in:

U.S. News and World Report
Best of the Web - Site of the Week 8/6/01

Discovery Channel Canada
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USA Today
Hot Sites 08/08/2005

Edible Plants & Mushrooms

Cirsium species

Locations Found