Cirsium brevicaule
A.Gray
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(c) Lijin Huang (紫楝), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Lijin Huang (紫楝)
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(c) echinoderm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
A perennial thistle reaching 1 meter tall with hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles. Self-fertile and adaptable to sandy, loamy, or clay soils across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH ranges. Requires full sun and prefers consistently moist conditions.
Description
A perennial thistle reaching 1 meter tall with hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles. Self-fertile and adaptable to sandy, loamy, or clay soils across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH ranges. Requires full sun and prefers consistently moist conditions.
Edible Uses
Leaves are edible cooked, but all spines must be removed before preparation. Seed oil can be extracted by expression from the seeds, as with all thistle species, though no yield figures are available.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
Asia, Japan,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position.
Propagation
Sow seed in early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually occurs within 2–8 weeks at 20°C. Can also be propagated by division in spring or autumn.
Other Uses
The seeds of all thistle species yield a useful oil by expression, though no details on potential yields are given.
Notes
There are about 150-250 Cirsium species. They grow in temperate regions.
Synonyms
References (1)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
