Common Name:

General Information

Cirsium brevicaule is a prickly, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a somewhat slender rootstock. It produces a basal rosette of leaves and a stount, erect, branched flowering stem that can grow around 10 - 100cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern Japan, Taiwan.

Habitat

In maritime rocky and grassy slopes; from sea level to 100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Cirsium brevicaule is native to the subtropical climate of the Ryuku Islands and southern Taiwan. As such, it is unlikely to succeed outdoors in any but the mildest regions of the temperate zone.
Cirsium species are generally easily grown plants, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[]. The spines must be removed beforehand[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[]. No details of potential yields etc are given[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c.
Division in spring or autumn.