Onopordum acanthium
| Onopordum acanthium | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 5' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Onopordum acanthium (common name: scotch thistle)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ[1]. The seed can also be sown in situ in autumn[1].
If the seed is in short supply then it can be sown in a pot in the greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in almost any ordinary garden soil[2][3]. Requires a well-drained soil, preferably in full sun though it tolerates light shade[1]. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil[1]. Grows very well in poor soils, succeeding in hot dry situations and tolerating drought when it is established[4]. A slow-growing plant[5].
Hardy to about -15°c[1].
A very ornamental plant[2], the flowers are very attractive to bees[1]. Plants are prone to slug and snail damage[5].
Often self-sows, sometimes to the point of nuisance, though the seedlings can easily be hoed out and can also be transplanted if they are moved whilst still small[1].
Range: Europe, possibly including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain and W. Asia.
Habitat: Waste places and arable land, especially on chalky and sandy soils, avoiding shade[6][7]. Also found on slightly acid soils[1].
Edibility: Flower buds - cooked. A globe artichoke substitute[8][6][7][9][10], though they are much smaller and very fiddly to use[K].
Stems - cooked. Used as a vegetable, they are a cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) substitute[8][6]. The stems are cooked in water like asparagus or rhubarb[11]. They are best if the rind is removed[6][9][10].
Leaves and young plants - cooked[7][12]. They are harvested before the flowers develop and the prickles must be removed prior to cooking[7].
The petals are an adulterant for saffron[13][14][12][10], used as a yellow food colouring and flavouring.
A good quality edible oil is obtained from the seed[8][6][10]. The seed contains about 25% oil[6].
Medicinal: The flowering plant is cardiotonic[7]. It is used in some proprietary heart medicines[7].
The juice of the plant has been used with good effect in the treatment of cancers and ulcers[6].
A decoction of the root is astringent[6]. It is used to diminish discharges from mucous membranes[6].
Usage: The stem hairs are sometimes collected and used to stuff pillows[6].
An oil obtained from the seed is used as a fuel for lamps[6].
Pollinators: Bees, self
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Loewenfeld, Claire and Philippa Back. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.