Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterized by leaves with sharp spikes on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. These prickles protect the plant from herbivores.

Jun 3, 2023 · Thistle plants are related to globe artichokes, and there's a few different parts of thistles you can eat. The leaf mid rib of the larger, deeply lobed leaves can be trimmed and ingested eaten. The young flower stalk shoots can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked.

Mar 21, 2017 · Native thistle provide important habitat and food sources for native fauna. The nectar and pollen of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Many insects feed on the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, while some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds.

Feb 23, 2024 · Many thistle plants look alike, which makes them difficult to differentiate. But don’t worry — we’ve compiled some tips and tricks for identifying at least 15 amazing thistle plants! Occasionally, creeping thistle plants may produce white flowers.

This vegetable grows to 1.4–2 m (4+1⁄2 – 6+1⁄2 ft) tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery, glaucous-green leaves 50–83 cm (19+1⁄2 – 32+1⁄2 in) long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud about 8–15 cm (3–6 in) diameter with numerous triangular scales; the individual florets are purple.

Oct 9, 2024 · What is Thistle? Thistle is a term used to describe a group of flowering plants characterized by their prickly leaves and stems. These plants belong to the Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and sunflowers. Thistles are known for their resilience and ability to thrive in various environments. Thistle plants are part of the Asteraceae family.

Apr 2, 2025 · thistle, weedy species of Cirsium, Carduus, Echinops, Sonchus, and other plant genera of the family Asteraceae. The word thistle most often refers to prickly leaved species of Carduus and Cirsium, which have dense heads of small, usually pink or purple flowers.

Thistles (Cirsium spp.), are a diverse group of plants, noted for their spiky and impenetrable exteriors. There are species native to each continent, and no matter where they grow, they are almost always treated as weeds. You may be surprised to learn that under that intimidating exterior lies a nutritious wild edible.

Many plants are called thistles and have in common prickliness. Stems, flowers, or leaves have bristly spikes, a protective characteristic rendering them unpleasant to handle (or eat, if you graze). Thistles belong to the Asteraceae family, making them distant cousins of sunflowers, asters, and daisies.

Jul 28, 2022 · Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves.