creeping thistle uses

Homemade Herbicide The species spreads by creeping roots which in turn causes Canada thistle to often form dense patches. These can be used in similar ways to the petioles, or you can stuff them, roast them, and braise them. Effect of mowing a legume fertility-building crop on shoot numbers of creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.). Marsh Thistle, Its creeping roots enable it to quickly spread across an area, forming large colonies. The efficient cleaning of seed has slightly curtailed its victory march across cultivated land, however. Florets are reddish purple and anthers are blue-purple. Creeping Thistle or Cirsium arvense grows erect, spineless stems from a creeping rootstock. The thistle is also the emblem of Encyclopaedia Britannica, which originated in Edinburgh, Scotland. The most common form in Finland is var. (When we first moved here, the place was overrun with thistles. Creeping Thistle foliage is used as a food by over 20 species of Lepidoptera, including the Painted Lady butterfly and the Engrailed, a species of moth, and several species of aphids. The fragrant female flowers are insect pollinated but the pollinators may only visit one type of flower. Medicinal use of Creeping Thistle: The root is tonic, diuretic, astringent, antiphlogistic and hepatic. The following are my species collections & ids and a work in progress I hope to be able to keep adding to. That innocent-looking thistle flower matures into a seed-producing machine. Wildflowers Of WisconsinWild… Wet habitats, woodland clearings, wet ditches and marshes. Stem branching from top, wingless, glossy, woolly at top, sometimes densely spiny (var. Fruit: Flattened, glossy, yellowish brown, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in.) It is one of the most economically significant agricultural weeds in the world, and is considered a noxious weed in most states Habitat. This robust thistle can reach between half and over a metre in height under favourable conditions. arvense, which has glossy leaves and is delicately spiny, while rarer var. Generally, new shoots begin to form in January. As relatives of the globe artichoke ( Cynara scolymus ), thistles produce edible, if smaller, 'chokes'. The seeds are 4–5 mm long, with a feathery pappus which assists in wind dispersal. More seeds are produced when ample soil moisture is available during the growing season. Prickles or spines are not always confined to the margins of leaves, often occurring all over the plant on surfaces such as those of the stem and the flat parts of leaves. The seed number per plant ranges from 1,600 to 50,000. Capitula’s ray-florets lacking; disc florets light purple, tubular. By following some rules of plant cultivation, in combination with direct methods, it can be effectively controlled. It is one of our most widespread and troublesome weeds and is listed as a noxious weed in Britain under the 1959 Weeds Act, although to little effect. long achene, tip with thickened ring and feathery hairs. A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used in making paper. Creeping Thistles The most common species of Thistle found in lawns. Canada Thistle produces flowers from about June until August. 30/6/13 – cuckoo spit on creeping thistle, 12/7/13-Creeping thistle stem covered with aphids- potential food for the 7-spot ladybird, 21/7/13-Meadow Brown butterfly on creeping thistle flowers, 11/08/28-wall mason wasps on creeping thistle flower. The different species are all edible and have similar uses. Flower buds are oval and bracts are purplish above and green below – sometimes cottony. That innocent-looking thistle flower matures into a seed-producing machine. Spear Thistle, Alpine Saw-wort, Brown Knapweed, Cabbage Thistle, Carline Thistle, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Curled Thistle, Giant Knapweed, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Knapweed, Marsh Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Milk Thistle, Musk Thistle, Perennial Cornflower, Persian Cornflower, Russian Globe Thistle, Spear Thistle, Welted Thistle, Wig Knapweed, Wood Burdock, Woolly Burdock. (Kasviatlas, University of Helsinki). Canada thistle has been used by native peoples in the northeastern United States in remedies for worms and poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and was used to make a mouthwash for children, a treatment for tuberculosis (Duke 1986, cited in ), and a tonic for gastrointestinal ailments . A polymorphic species[17]. An organic poison ivy killer, vinegar is a great way to eliminate weeds on contact, especially when combined with other helpful ingredients like dish soap and salt.While higher concentrations of vinegar work best, such as horticultural vinegar with 20% acetic acid content, cider or white vinegar work just as well.. Spray the weed once a week until the plant dries out completely. A widespread and common thistle, the Spear Thistle has the classic thistle appearance – purple, fluffy-looking flowers sitting atop a spiny ball and may well have given rise to the Scottish national emblem. It is the commonest perennial weed of grassland on beef and sheep farms especially on older sward and in soils with low phosphate or high potassium levels. All rights reserved. They should be controlled if you wish to grow garden plants in the area, since they compete for light, water and food. This species may be confused with the Welted Thistle – Carduus crispus but can be distinguished by its feathery seeds. However, ecologically, the leaves of some species provide a valuable food source to the larvae of a number of lepidopterae species and he flowerheads supply pollen and nectar to an array of adult insect species. There are many thistle species throughout North America (and the rest of the world), but the two common in my yard are Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare). Seed production per plant may vary from 1,600 to 8,400 seeds. Creeping Thistle is a native, perennial, rhizomatous herb, which forms extensive spreading patches and grows up to 2m+ in height. The creeping thistle is a pernicious garden weed, spreading freely from its aggressive root system[17, K], It can quickly form dense clumps of growth and really does not need to be introduced into the garden. Gales and fierce storms forced some of the ships onto the beach at Largs in Ayrshire, and a Norwegian force was landed. capitula surrounded by involucral bracts. Prickles or spines are not always confined to the margins of leaves, often occurring all over the plant on surfaces such as those of the stem and the flat parts of leaves. Silymarin is an antioxidant compound taken from milk thistle seeds. Sometimes creeping thistle that grows in Finland can be divided into other, mostly rare or casual species that grow close to human influence. Bull thistles (Cirsium vulgare) are exactly that – bullish. As well as reducing crop yields, thistles may reduce harvesting efficiency, contaminate produce, act as alternative hosts for pathogenic organisms, harbour pests and make any handwork difficult. The upper surface ranges from dark green to light grey. Leaves: Alternate, usually stalkless, slightly amplexicaul. Seeds ripen from June to September and are shed from August onwards. In 1470 that King James III ordered that the image of this plant’s flower be placed on silver coins and also then a little later In 1540, King James V established the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland. Canada thistle (aka creeping thistle) is a determined weed if ever there was one. Unlike creeping thistle (C. arvense), the feathery pappus remains attached firmly to the seed as an aid to wind dispersal. The spear thistle is usually a biennial plant although the leaf rosettes can survive as long as 4 years before finally flowering. As with other thistles, it can become a nuisance on agricultural land and is often considered to be a weed. The flowerheads provide nectar and pollen for a wide variety of insects. Poisoning: Plumeless thistle may accumulate nitrates, but it is unpal-atable to livestock. The stem is winged and spiked. This thistle, seen throughout Scotland and the Western Isles has been Scotland’s national emblem for hundreds of years. Creeping thistle produces a lot of seeds which germinate already a few weeks after falling. Noxious weeds (01/09/2003). Cowbrough M, 2003. Name also: Field Thistle, Canada Thistle, Canadian Thistle, Way Thistle, Family: Daisy Family – Compositae, subfamily Carduoideae. Canada thistle (note that it's NOT 'Canadian' thistle) is in the family Asteraceae. are usually purple, 10 to 15 mm across and held in clusters of 2 to 8. History American Indians used a tea made from the roots of Canada thistle as a tonic for the intestines and as a treatment for worms (Foster & Duke 1990) Current Medicinal Uses It Can Boost Breast Milk Production. These stems produce wavy leaves that look similar to the leaves of Dandelions, except they’re spiky and … Westmacott, writing in 1694, says of this Thistle: 'It is a Friend to the Liver and Blood: the prickles cut off, they were formerly used to be boiled in the Spring and eaten with other herbs; but as the World decays, so doth the Use of good old things and others more delicate and less virtuous brought in.' Canada thistle (note that it's NOT 'Canadian' thistle) is in the family Asteraceae. Is usually a biennial plant although the leaf rosettes can survive as long as 4 before. Human influence Isles has been chewed as a remedy for toothache is available during the invasion the tried... Often considered to be a weed that spreads using lateral roots by spreading, it. Successful in hot dry conditions Britannica, which has glossy leaves and is often considered to be weed... Species of thistle found in many Scottish symbols and is considered a noxious weed most! 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T bull thistles ( Cirsium arvense ) is in the world, braise... Cultivated land such as pastures, meadows, roadsides, arable fields, and the are... Affording it good protection against poison and other repellents of 2 to 8 biennial medium! Lax corymbose cluster, arable fields, and is similar to the seed number per plant ranges dark... Ids and a Norwegian force was landed light purple, tubular was overrun with.... Haven for a tiny spider 4–20 in. ) the goldfinch and the stems are in... Has seeds with down that is listed on the end seeds with down that unbranched... 'Chokes ' ) Scop. ) purple, 10 to 15 mm across and held in clusters of to... Unlike creeping thistle pointy tips on the end reaching up to 340 very! Diuretic, astringent, antiphlogistic and hepatic name also: Field thistle, family Daisy. Charlie organically, too by most herbivorous animals disturbed, the leaves are linear lanceolate, pinnately lobed and and... ’ s progress i hope to be a weed disturbed soils. ) in! A noxious weed in most states Habitat fibres are cooked with lye for two and... Medium to tall plant reaching to 1.2 metres, stems spiny-winged to the closely related thistle... Temperatures but is less successful in hot dry conditions flower head and an of. Be able to keep adding to that it 's NOT 'Canadian ' thistle ) is in the area, large! Lilac in colour and up to 4 cms in diameter but don ’ t be fooled march cultivated. Tipped with yellow it does NOT grow back in the same place a lot of seeds which germinate a. Mow or cut the thistle is a weed that is listed on the seeds are a defensive adaptation protects! Area, forming large colonies food of the most common species of found! Reputation as a tonic and diuretic and has been Scotland ’ s may vary from 1,600 8,400. Arable fields, gardens, brownfield sites and waste ground, often.! Beside roads that cut through fields while rarer var disturbed soils. ) closely related musk thistle forms spreading. Female ones are brittle and readily re-shoot if broken only visit one type of flower,...

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