{"id":39063,"date":"2022-03-04T14:40:21","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T14:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=39063"},"modified":"2022-03-04T14:40:21","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T14:40:21","slug":"spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Identification Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Spear Thistle \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Autumn \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-39063 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/spear-thistle-shot-of-the-flower\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-shot-of-the-flower-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-39069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-shot-of-the-flower-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-shot-of-the-flower-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-shot-of-the-flower.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-39069'>\n\t\t\t\tRob Hille, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-overlapping-bracts\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-overlapping-bracts-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-39068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-overlapping-bracts-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-overlapping-bracts-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-overlapping-bracts.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-39068'>\n\t\t\t\tAnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/spear-thistle-flower-spikes-in-summer\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-flower-spikes-in-summer-225x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-39067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-flower-spikes-in-summer-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-flower-spikes-in-summer-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-flower-spikes-in-summer.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-39067'>\n\t\t\t\tAnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-39066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-39066'>\n\t\t\t\tRob Hille, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-pappus\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-pappus-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-39065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-pappus-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-pappus-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-pappus.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-39065'>\n\t\t\t\tAnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/03\/04\/spear-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-identification-guide\/spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-39064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-39064'>\n\t\t\t\tMathias keraudren, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Spear Thistle is a native, biannual member of the daisy family. \u00a0It\u2019s massively common and the stems can be used as a celery substitute.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Common Names<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Spear Thistle, Bull Thistle, Scotch Thistle<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Botanical Name<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Cirsium vulgare<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Scientific Classification<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kingdom<\/strong> \u2013 Plantae<\/p>\n<p><strong>Order<\/strong> \u2013 Asterales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Family<\/strong> \u2013 Asteraceae<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Physical Characteristics for Spear Thistle <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Leaves<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The plant develops two types of leaves, the basal leaves grow from a rosette. These are spear shaped, deeply lobed and are covered in sharp spines. Up to 30cm long. From the centre of the rosette a flowering stalk emerges, which can be up to 1.5 metres tall. The leaves from this are spear shaped and much smaller.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_39066\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39066\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-39066\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-basal-leaf.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39066\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rob Hille, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Flowers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The flowers form a purple to mauve inflorescence that can be up to 5cm in diameter. One of the key ID features of Thistles are the overlapping bracts (involucre) found directly below the flowers.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_39064\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39064\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-39064\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Spear-thistle-close-up-of-the-flower.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-39064\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mathias keraudren, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Seeds<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The tiny seeds are wind dispersed, they are all attached to clumps of fine hairs called pappus. They look a little like a dandelion clock.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s one of the most common weeds in the UK and can be found almost anywhere. Most often it\u2019s found on waste ground and the edges of farmers\u2019 fields.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Known Hazards<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>None known.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Could be Confused with&#8230;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s a plant most of us are familiar with and it would be hard to confuse it with anything else other than different Thistles species but they can all be used in a similar way.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Edible Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Believe it or not they are a tasty treat, the leaves and stems can be eaten raw as a crudit\u00e9 or cooked. But the spines have to be removed first. Simply cut them off with a sharp knife and peel off the outer skin.<\/p>\n<p>As a relative to Globe Artichokes they do produce edible \u2018chokes\u2019. The unopened flower buds can be boiled and eaten in a similar way, peeling away the bracts to get to the soft flesh inside.<\/p>\n<p>If you have the landowners permission you can also eat the roots, when roasted it has a similar flavour to Burdock.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Notes on Herbal Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The plant is known to be high in fibre, protein, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, copper, and zinc.<\/p>\n<p>In herbal medicine it is used to treat swelling of joints and tendons, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Extra notes from the Foragers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you are going to harvest Thistles go well prepared! Wear gloves and try to protect your eyes.<\/p>\n<p>They are quite difficult to process but they are worth the effort.<\/p>\n<p>The flowers are the national emblem of Scotland, legend goes that when Vikings used to pillage the Scottish shores, a raiding army were about to ambush a small village. When approaching the victims, one of the Vikings stepped on thistles and the pain was so intense that the screams awakened the whole valley, saving it.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.permaculture.co.uk\/articles\/thistles-high-nutrient-weed\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.permaculture.co.uk\/articles\/thistles-high-nutrient-weed<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cirsium_vulgare\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cirsium_vulgare<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.permaculture.co.uk\/articles\/thistles-high-nutrient-weed\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.permaculture.co.uk\/articles\/thistles-high-nutrient-weed<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/practicalselfreliance.com\/edible-thistle\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/practicalselfreliance.com\/edible-thistle\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spear Thistle \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Autumn \/ Edible Spear Thistle is a native, biannual member of the daisy family. \u00a0It\u2019s massively common and the stems can be used as a celery substitute. Common Names Spear Thistle, Bull Thistle, Scotch Thistle Botanical Name Cirsium vulgare Scientific Classification Kingdom \u2013&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":39069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,86],"tags":[613,239,1314,152,1311,104,238],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39063"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39063"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39260,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39063\/revisions\/39260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}