Edible thistle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edible thistle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cirsium
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| Species: |
edule
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The edible thistle, also known as the Indian thistle, is a type of plant called a thistle. Its scientific name is Cirsium edule. This plant is special because parts of it can be eaten!
Contents
Where Does the Edible Thistle Grow?
This thistle is found in western North America. You can see it growing from southeastern Alaska down through British Columbia. It also grows in Washington and Oregon. Sometimes, you can even find it further inland in Idaho.
What Does the Edible Thistle Look Like?
The edible thistle is a tall plant. It can grow to be about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6.5 feet) high. It is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years.
Its leaves are quite spiny. They are usually 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) long. The leaves are also lobed, meaning they have deep cuts or divisions. Leaves higher up on the stem are smaller.
The flowers of the edible thistle are purple. They grow in a cluster about 3 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) wide. These flowers have many small petals called disc florets. They do not have the larger, strap-shaped petals called ray florets that some other flowers have.
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small seeds. These seeds are about 4 to 5 millimeters long. They have a fluffy, downy top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seeds float on the wind, spreading them to new places.
Life Cycle of the Edible Thistle
The edible thistle has an interesting life cycle. For several years, it grows as a low rosette of leaves close to the ground. It looks like a flat circle of leaves.
Then, in the spring, it sends up a tall stem with flowers. This is when it blooms and produces seeds. After the seeds are ready and spread, the plant dies. This type of life cycle, where a plant flowers and produces seeds only once before dying, is called monocarpic.
How is the Edible Thistle Used?
Long ago, Native Americans used the edible thistle as food. They would eat the roots and the young shoots of the plant.
The roots are known to be sweet. However, they contain a substance called inulin. For some people, eating too much inulin can cause digestive problems.
Edible Thistle and Butterflies
This thistle is also important for some insects. It is a host plant for the mylitta crescent butterfly. This means the caterpillars of the mylitta crescent butterfly eat the thistle's leaves. The edible thistle is also a host plant for the painted lady butterfly.
