Cirsium serratuloides — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Root

The root is edible cooked and is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It grows on mountain slopes and beside rivers between 1,200-2,600 m above sea level in western China.

Asia, China, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia,

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 1.2 m tall. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are 10-15 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The upper leaves are smaller.

How to Grow

Propagation: Sow seed in early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2–8 weeks at 20°C. Can also be propagated by division in spring or autumn.

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 perennial thistle reaching 1.2 m tall with hermaphroditic flowers blooming July to October and seeds maturing through October. Pollinated by bees, flies, moths, butterflies, and beetles; self-fertile. Thrives in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils across mildly acidic to basic pH ranges. Requires full sun and prefers moist conditions.

Notes

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

Names & Synonyms

Carduus serratuloides (L.) Hill.Cnicus serratuloides (L.) Roth.

References (3)

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 205 (As Cnicus serratuloides)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
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).