Cirsium virginianum
(L.) Michx.
Virginia Thistle
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Sharleen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sharleen
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Eliot VanOtteren, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Eliot VanOtteren, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Virginia thistle is a biennial growing 1.2 m tall with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by bees, flies, butterflies, and beetles. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH, requiring full sun and moist to wet soil conditions.
Description
Virginia thistle is a biennial growing 1.2 m tall with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by bees, flies, butterflies, and beetles. It adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH, requiring full sun and moist to wet soil conditions.
Edible Uses
The root is edible cooked. It is likely rich in inulin, a starch the human body cannot digest, which passes straight through the digestive system and may ferment in some people, causing flatulence. Seeds of all thistle species yield a useful oil by expression.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
Propagation
Sow seed in early spring or autumn in situ. Germination typically occurs within 2–8 weeks at 20°C.
Other Uses
The seeds yield a good oil by expression. No details on potential yields are given.
Notes
There are about 150-250 Cirsium species. They grow in temperate regions.
