Cirsium buergeri
Miq.
(c) kota18, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) kota18, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Root
The root is edible cooked. It is likely rich in inulin, a starch that humans cannot digest; it passes through the digestive system unchanged and may ferment in some individuals, producing flatulence. Seed oil can also be extracted by expression.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
Asia, Japan,
How to Identify
A perennial thistle growing to 1.8 meters, flowering from September to November with seeds ripening October to November. Hermaphrodite flowers are pollinated by bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles; plant is self-fertile. Requires full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soils across sandy, loamy, or clay textures with mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH.
How to Grow
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.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
The seeds of all thistle species yield a useful oil by expression, though no details on potential yields are given.
Wikipedia
A perennial thistle growing to 1.8 meters, flowering from September to November with seeds ripening October to November. Hermaphrodite flowers are pollinated by bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles; plant is self-fertile. Requires full sun and prefers moist, well-drained soils across sandy, loamy, or clay textures with mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH.
Notes
There are about 150-250 Cirsium species. They grow in temperate regions.
References (1)
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/