Cirsium pendulum

Fisch.

AsteraceaeLeavesRoots
Cirsium pendulum
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(c) Dalgial, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Cirsium pendulum
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(c) Анастасия Згонник, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Анастасия Згонник
Cirsium pendulum
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Alexey P. Seregin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alexey P. Seregin

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Root

The root is edible cooked, though it is only slightly thickened. It is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans; it passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence. Leaves and young plants can also be eaten cooked.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grasslands in mountain valleys between 300-2,300 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A herb. It is a thistle. It grows 1-3 m tall. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are 40-50 cm long by 20 cm wide. They are twice divided with 5-7 pairs of primary segments. The end segments are triangle shaped and have small spines.

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 takes place within 2–8 weeks at 20°C.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

The seed, as with all thistle species, yields a good oil by expression. No details of potential yields are given.

Wikipedia

A biennial thistle reaching 1.8 m tall. Flowers June to September with seeds maturing July to September. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile, pollinated by bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and moist soil.

Notes

There are about 150-250 Cirsium species. They grow in temperate regions.

Names & Synonyms

Keuneonggeongkwi

References (3)
  • Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
  • Song, M., et al, 2013, Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in Jeju Island, Korea. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 12(2) pp 177-194
  • Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 199-230).

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