Common Name: Tuberous Thistle

General Information

Cirsium tuberosum is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock with spindle-shaped roots; it produces a cluster of basal leaves and an erect flowering stem around 20 - 60cm 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

Western and central Europe - Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Balkans

Habitat

Chalk downs and other calcareous pastures[]. Damp grassland on calcareous soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Cirsium species are generally easily grown plants, succeeding in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[].
Plants are tolerant of considerable neglect, though they produce much better roots when given a good soil and some attention[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ]. It can be stored overwinter[, ]. A slight bitterness but acceptable, it makes a reasonable cooked vegetable[]. Sometimes, however, the root seems to be very aromatic and is then less than pleasant[]. The root is rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seed fluff is used as a tinder[].

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. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.