The leaves and flowers have tiny sharp thorns that stick deep under your skin then break off at the slightest touch, like thousands of tiny needles. collected from established populations in Missouri. Perhaps youre enjoying the views of your backyard, state park, or hiking trail, and you stumble upon a large purple flower with spiny leaves. 15. The five invasive thistles that occur in Oklahoma are native to Europe and Asia and Distaff thistle has solitary, yellow flowers at the top She is also a journalist and marketing content creator who enjoys cooking and eating, both helpful hobbies for a gardener. Dead plants may remain standing for up to a year after they die. home range are not present in the state, thus heavy infestations can often develop. American basketflower doesnt actually have the trademark thorns of a thistle, but the bloom is very similar. Commonly encountered native species include wavyleaf Apart from that the common name sow thistle refers to its attractiveness to swine, and the similarity of the leaf to younger thistle plants. On the internet, many websites and blogs are proclaiming that milk thistle can support thyroid hormone health simply by means of Like many thistle species, Musk thistle can grow to be 8 feet tall and can be found flowering May-June. Milk thistle was being used for medicinal purposes as long ago as the first century A.D. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. If you have an account, then sign in now! It received both names from Benedictine monks in the fourteenth century. This also has been done with fire ants at the University of Texas. According to the World Health Organization, traditional medicine is 'the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness.' Bull thistle is biennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 to 10, and Canada thistle is perennial in zones 2 to 8. Italian thistle also has several close relatives in California. Diseases and insects that normally hold them in check in their Native to Europe and the Mediterranean, but also common in the United States, Scotch thistle (Cynara cardunculus, zones 7-10) is a slow-growing biennial. Though bull thistle is difficult to contain, frequent mowing before it flowers can help keep it under control. The Texas Invasive Species Institute refers to Kali tragus as Salsola tragus, which was its taxonomic name until 2007. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is a biennial that is commonly found throughout the United States and southern Canada. Healthline says milk thistle, or Silybum marianum, contains a compound called silymarin, which is known to have anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. The first year they start out as low basal rosettes close to the ground. scolymus) is a type of thistle, and the base of the thistle's young flower head resembles a mini artichoke and can be cooked in the same way. Yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum) and its distribution. Its sending pains through my foot when I walk. The rosettes can get up to 4 across. The key to identifying is to practice. We can provide advice on how to control bull thistle, but there is generally no legal requirement to do so. as providing seeds for birds. musk, scotch and Canada thistles to be noxious weeds and public nuisances in all counties Distaff thistle forms yellow flowers with fistlike clusters of spines underneath. I am real careful now when I have to cut those things down. Infestations One variety, the Scotch thistle, sports purple flowers and prickly leaves and has become the national emblem of Scotland. A personal favorite, Texas thistle is virtually indistinguishable from Engelmanns thistle. Management strategies including variety selection, soil nutrients, weed management, hay cutting, curing, baling and marketing for alfalfa crops. Just make sure its not a non-native! 2. Flowering heads are completely lacking in cobwebby pubescence thats so common in Cirsium species. The flowers are bright purple or magenta. It is a plant native to the Mediterranean, but is now cultivated around the world. They are mostly native to Eurasia and . Other potential benefits include . 2-4 feet tall, Canada thistle is generally shorter than many native thistles. Annual Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) is often found in the American West. Blessed thistle is thought to be a galactagogue which is a food, herb, or medication that increases the production of breast milk. appearance. Infestations were identified early and were eradicated. Yellowspine thistle may be helpful in treating diabetes, and was once taken as contraceptive by the Zuni people. This makes many people skeptical, including some physicians and nurses. bracts beneath the petals and no spiny wings along the stems. Scotch thistle is eye-catchingly bizarre. Milk thistle is believed to exert a special chemical that helps protect the liver preventing damage. Cirsium is a genus of perennial and biennial flowering plants in the Asteraceae, one of several genera known commonly as thistles.They are more precisely known as plume thistles.These differ from other thistle genera (Carduus, Silybum and Onopordum) in having feathered hairs to their achenes.The other genera have a pappus of simple unbranched hairs.. Milk thistle is a plant with white-veined leaves that has traditionally been used to treat liver issues and stimulate breast milk production, among other applications. Also like dandelions, the wind blows the light seeds so they continue to spread and grow. The thistle has been used in traditional medicine to cure or alleviate a medley of illnesses for centuries. I think the Italian thistle is much worse and more invasive. in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California. There are several herbicides that are effective on bull thistle, but it is important to carefully match the product with your site, local conditions and regulations, and other weed and land management issues, and always follow the label directions for the product you are using. The leaves are loped, with each ending in a sharp spine. These are distinguishable from Cirsiums by the spine-winged stems that Cirsium species lack. The flowers, stems, and leaves all contain a chemical compound called tannins, which are believed to aid in a variety of health situations. Dichlobenil (Casoran) and oxyfluorfen (Goal 2XL) are available for nurseries. The milk thistle is a plant with variegated leaves with milky white veins. If the bull thistle population is large enough to support a good sized population of this insect, it can be an effective way to reduce seed production of the bull thistle. Blessed thistle side effects include nausea and vomiting, usually associated with taking quantities in excess of 6 grams per day. It is also commonly used to promote breast milk secretion for newly lactating mothers. which thistles on their land they are required to control. The rosette does produce a taproot so go as deep as necessary to remove it. Its spiny, winged stems and both sides Native only to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, Englemanns thistle can grow 3-6 feet tall and is most likely to be confused with Cirsium texanum. If the Russian thistle gets too invasive, using a chemical solution can help to control, if not eliminate, the problem. Spiny bracts grow right up to the flowerheads; the middle and lower spines are spreading and yellow or straw-colored. Possible side effects include gastroenteritis, diarrhea, headache, and skin reactions. They also cost a lot of money and time to control. Bull Thistle Identification and Management, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Problem Weeds in Field Crops: Managing Annuals and Biennials, Problem Weeds in Field Crops: Managing Perennials, Johnsongrass and Shattercane Control: An Integrated Approach, Rights-of-Way and Integrated Vegetation Management, Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Weed Management Guide, Controlling Understory Fern Competition for Regeneration Success, Controlling Tree of Heaven: Why it Matters. Their widespread use to provide therapy for both common and uncommon ailments has created a lot of controversies here in the United States. January and February Invasive Thistles not Covered by/in the Noxious Weed Law, Vegetative Key to the Most Commonly Encountered Purple-Flowered Thistles in Oklahoma, Weed Control in Pecans, Apples and Peaches, Smallseed Falseflax Management in Winter Wheat, Agronomic Calendar for Oklahoma Alfalfa Growers, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Milk thistle is also in the Asteraceae family of plants, but has distinct differences from blessed thistle. (Cirsium undulatum), distributed statewide; yellowspine (Cirsium ochrocentrum), in Yellowspine thistle may look alarming, but offers many services to native bees, including bumblebees. You can learn more information on invasive species control and what you can do at the National Agricultural Library. Remember to always read the label for proper application sites and rates. However, there is limited research that supports that it actually stimulates lactation. Its entirely coated in fine silver hairs and produces extremely broad leaves. Milk thistle has white marbling on the otherwise green leaves. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. hepatitis. Photo: Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org, bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare. If you have experience, you can also try using this dichotomous key, but beware that it is specific to Texas. Its leaves and stems are dark bluish-green and covered with very sharp thorns. Milk Thistle Growing up to 30 inches tall, milk thistle is native to Europe and Asia. Tall thistle is often found in drainage ditches and wetland areas and not in pastures . appear, they should immediately be destroyed by chopping them off below ground or Milk thistle is a plant in the Asteraceae family. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CIAL2, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/tall_thistle.htm, http://www.kansasnativeplants.com/guide/plant_detail.php?plnt_id=13, https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CIDI&photoID=cidi_003_avp.tif#, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/cirsium-discolor-26.jpg, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/field-thistle, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ps_thistlex.htm, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=39018, http://www.asergeev.com/pictures/k/Cirsium_Engelmannii.htm, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=1636, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=1639, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=1635, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/udata/r9ndp23q/purple/cirsium-muticum-018.jpg, http://michiganflora.net/species_images/m/4128.jpg, https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Asteraceae/cirsium-muticum-le-kmorse.jpg, http://www.fireflyforest.com/images/wildflowers/plants/Cirsium_neo_400.jpg, http://www.explorenm.com/plants/Asteraceae/Cirsium/neomexicanum/Overview/Cirsium_neomexicanum_Overview_4222.jpg, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=5285, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=26148, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=5269, https://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=cioc2_005_ahp.jpg, http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=5279, http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/bio406d/images/pics/ast/Cirsium_texanum.htm, https://medivetus.com/botanic/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/cirsium-texanum-2-400372.jpg, http://www.madrean.org/symbflora/taxa/index.php?taxon=78199, https://alchetron.com/Cirsium-undulatum-2192133-W#demo, http://www.easterncoloradowildflowers.com/_Web%20Photos/Cirsium%20undulatum_Asteraceae_Wavy-leafed%20thistle_6b.jpg, http://snowbirdpix.com/montana_plant_page.php?id=1114, http://www.freenatureimages.eu/plants/Flora%20C/Carduus%20nutans,%20Musk%20Thistle/Carduus%20nutans%203,%20Knikkende%20distel,%20Saxifraga-Piet%20Zomerdijk.jpg, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Musk_thistle.jpg/220px-Musk_thistle.jpg, http://hasbrouck.asu.edu/imglib/seinet/Asteraceae/photos/Carduus_nutans_020207_1.jpg, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/canada-thistle, https://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/feature_articles/thistles/thistles.html, http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Onopordum+acanthium, http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/72264-Onopordum, https://maxpull-gdvuch3veo.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bull-thistle-400266.jpg, http://www.ediblewildfood.com/images/bull-thistle-pictures/bull-thistle-leaf.jpg, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57dc117803596e07ba9b9bfb/58891e84579fb333e60ceeee/58891eeb2e69cfac18fde14c/1486578470838/Bull+thistle+1+-+Dewey.jpg, https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/silybum-marianum, http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=silybum+marianum, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silybum_marianum, http://texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=CALA20, http://www.maltawildplants.com/ASTR/Carthamus_lanatus.php, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/64232-Carthamus-lanatus, https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=1010, https://perennialecology.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-a-guide-to-distinguishin…. Place the dried and ground stamens in a small bowl. This is part of a talk I gave last week in Marin County. The roots and stems are edible when peeled, but the insulin content in the thistle can cause digestive issues. This plant is much different than Canada thistle. Its stems are blanketed in wooly white hairs. I grow it as a companion to vegetables as an attractant to beneficial insects and butterflies. It can grow to 6 feet tall and blooms June-July. Public and private landowners are not required to control infestations ofbull thistlethat occur on their property in King County. requires the full cooperation of all landowners. An organic poison ivy killer, vinegar is a great way to eliminate weeds on contact, especially when combined with other helpful ingredients like dish soap and salt. The Xerces Society says non-native thistles are among the most problematic invasive species in North America. Marcy then elaborated how she has been using blessed thistle to help increase her breast milk supply for her new son. What Do the Seeds of Moonflowers Look Like? [] An excellent blog post by K. Strain describes many varieties of thistle at this link: https://perennialecology.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-a-guide-to-distinguishin… [], [] This series of photos was taken over a period of about a week, while I watched the flower emerge from its spikey bulb. The purpose of this publication Bull thistle is biennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 to 10, and Canada thistle is perennial in zones 2 to 8. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, What is Medicinal Herbology? Another common invasive that is actually in the amaranth family is commonly called Russian thistle (Kali tragus). A conspicuous difference is that Cliff thistle only grows to become 18 inches tall. It can be found blooming April-August, and is also edible. Light-colored underside of tall thistle, a native thistle species that rarely reaches densities of concern . There are now six non-native Carduus thistles and five non-native Cirsium thistle species. Bull thistle thrives in sunny areas in a variety of soil types and conditions. A thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. Comparatively, Canada thistle is a perennial that reproduces through underground rhizomes and wind-blown seeds. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and its distribution. Though the different thistles share similar characteristics, there are ways to identify each individual type. Wavyleaf thistle is similar to Yellowspine thistle, but differs in the undulation of the leaf edges, and the absence of long bracts at the base of the flower. From the origins of traditional medicine comes herbal medicines. When broken, the leaves produce a milky substance. Weed control, management, ecology, and minutia, https://research.vet.upenn.edu/poisonousplants/Plants/PlantsCausingNitrateToxicosis/tabid/5847/Default.aspx. It is believed to also have anti-inflammatory properties similar to milk thistle. If you arent sure, take pictures of distinctive features (leaves, bud, base, stems) to bring home and identify. Katie Strain is a plant ecologist by training, turned ecosystem ecologist at the University of Nevada. Downloading this factsheet will help you identify bull thistle, musk thistle and plumeless thistle, common weeds in pastures and other settings. Use a chemical weed solution if this thistle isn't easy to manually control. Bull thistle can reach a height of 3 feet. Prior to her teaching career, she was a Research & Development Scientist in the field of Immunohistochemistry. 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