Common Name: Creeping Thistle

General Information

Cirsium arvense is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a slender taproot with far-creeping lateral roots from which grow numerous new, flowering and non-flowering, erect stems. The flowering stems can be 30 - 90cm tall, occasionally up to 150cm. The plant can spread rapidly by means of these roots and soon forms dense colonies of prickly growth[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Cirsium arvense has spread as a weed through most temperate regions of the world. A pernicious weed, it spreads freely from its aggressive root system and also from its seeds which can be transported some distance in the wind. It rapidly invades disturbed soils and grassland and can quickly form dense clumps of growth. Eradication can be difficult because even a short length of root can regenerate and form now colonies of the plant[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Widespread through most of temperate and subtropical Eurasia, also found in parts of N. Africa.

Habitat

Arable land, roadsides etc[, ], a common weed of cultivated land[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.90 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The creeping thistle is a pernicious garden weed, spreading freely from its aggressive root system[, ], It can quickly form dense clumps of growth and really does not need to be introduced into the garden. Succeeds in any ordinary garden soil in a sunny position[].
Plants are often dioecious[].
A polymorphic species[].

Edible Uses

Root of first year plants - raw or cooked[]. Nutritious but rather bland, they are best used in a mixture with other vegetables[]. The root is likely to be 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[].

Stems - they are peeled and cooked like asparagus or rhubarb[, , , ].

Leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. A fairly bland flavour, but the prickles need to be removed before the leaves can be eaten - not only is this rather fiddly but very little edible leaf remains[]. The leaves are also used to coagulate plant milks etc[, , ].

Medicinal

The root is tonic, diuretic, astringent, antiphlogistic and hepatic[]. It has been chewed as a remedy for toothache[]. A decoction of the roots has been used to treat worms in children[]. A paste of the roots, combined with an equal quantity of the root paste of Amaranthus spinosus, is used in the treatment of indigestion[].

The leaves are antiphlogistic[]. They cause inflammation and have irritating properties[207[.

The plant contains a volatile alkaloid and a glycoside called cnicin, which has emetic and emmenagogue properties[].

The whole plant is antipyretic, depurative and haemostatic. It resolves clots and is used in the treatment of haemoptysis, haematemesis, metrorrhagia, boils and carbuncles and traumatic bleeding[]. (as Cirsium segetum)

Other Uses

The seed fluff is used as a tinder[].

The seed of all species of thistles yields a good oil by expression[]. The seed of this species contains about 22% oil[]. It has been used in India as an illuminant[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 8 weeks at 20°c. A pernicious weed, not many people would want to invite this plant into their garden.