Cirsium mexicanum

DC.

Asteraceae Edible: Leaves, Roots, Stems 660 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cirsium mexicanum is a Mesoamerican and Caribbean species of plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. Its common name is Mexican thistle. It is widespread across Mexico (Tamaulipas, Durango, Jalisco, Puebla, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatán Peninsula), Central America (all 7 countries) and the West Indies (Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico).

Description

A herb. It is a thistle. It grows 1-4 m tall. The stems branch above, The lower leaves are 45 cm long and 18 cm wide. The leaves have deep divisions. Upper leaves are 10 cm long by 6 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The leaves, roots, and stems are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,

Synonyms

Carduus lanceolatus var. arachnoideo-lanuginosus M. GómezCarduus mexicanus Moric. ex DC.Carduus mexicanus (DC.) GreeneCirsium costaricense (Pol.) Petr. [Illegitimate]Cirsium costaricensis Klatt ex T. Durand & Piit.Cirsium mexicanum var. bracteatum Petr.Cirsium mexicanum var. mexicanumCirsium portoricense (Kuntze) Petr.Cnicus costaricensis Pol.Cnicus mexicanus (DC.) Hemsl.Cnicus portoricensis Kuntze

Also Known As

Lechuga cimarron

References (1)

Rangel-Landa, S., et al, 2017, Sociocultural and ecological factors influencing management of edible and non-edible plants: the case of Ixcatlan, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 13:59

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