Milk thistle, another variety, contains a chemical known as silymarin. Ecology, evolution, biology and sustainable agriculture, on The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: A Guide to Distinguishing Texas Thistles, Anitas Blog - Excited About Bugs - Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalist. Pamela Vandivort has taught Science/STEM for 11+ years. Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) invaded Oklahoma from the west. Prevalent in the United States and Canada, bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is invasive and difficult to manage. Nowadays, many consider it an annoying weed. As nouns the difference between thistle and knapweed is that thistle is any of several perennial composite plants, especially of genera cirsium'', ''carduus'', ''cynara or , having prickly leaves and showy flower heads with prickly bracts while knapweed is any of various common weeds of the genus centaurea . People mainly use the supplement to treat . Its sending pains through my foot when I walk. Legend has it that in the tenth century, the invading Danes gave themselves away by their screams when they tried to steal away barefoot through a dry moat full of thistles. According to Eat The Planet, all thistle species are edible, and many were historically used for specific medicinal purposes. Use about 1 tablespoon of milk thistle seed powder per cup of tea. The artichoke plant (Cynara cardunculus var. Distaff thistle (Carthamus lanatus) was found in McClain County in the mid-1970s and It is a slender plant with sparse foliage, up to 6 ft tall on fertile soils. Marcy, while holding her third newborn son in her arms, suggested trying herbal supplements to help clear her body. Cirsium altissimum(Tall thistle) Aside from the height, tall thistle's defining features are the long, prickly bracts at the base of the flower and its upper, elliptic leaves. Bull thistle is a widespread biennial thistle originally from Europe and Asia, but now introduced throughout North America. But its leaves are not as deeply lobed, the milky stripes are much more pronounced, and the plant grows much bigger and more robust. as providing seeds for birds. stems and leaves and no wings or spines along the stem. Wisconsin Weed Identification: Biennial Thistle Comparison. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) has lobed leaves with sword-shaped sections, and scary spines at the tips. Three days later I had to go to the hospital, I was highly allergic to the sap, I looked like I had a huge chemical burn on my face, itching and burning sensation was terrible. Like a lot of our weeds, these species originated in southern Europe, southwestern Asia, and the Middle East. Possible side effects include gastroenteritis, diarrhea, headache, and skin reactions. Should I Buy (or Retain) Stockers to Graze Wheat Pasture? Where are some reliable places to buy native thistle seeds? It is thought that blessed thistle increases prolactin levels, which in turn increases breast milk production. Bull thistle Canada thistle Milk thistle Revised June 2007 Control Methods If you find milk thistle on your property, choose one or a combination of the control methods listed below. Proper identification of thistles In year two, they shoot up a large flower stalk. Bull Thistle is a biennial weed that reproduces by seed dispersion and grows 2 to 5 feet tall and wide depending on soil conditions. You may have heard of the perils of invasive thistle, but did you know that there are many native counterparts? Leavenworths eryngo (Eryngium leavenworthii) and its distribution. Milk thistle has white marbling on the otherwise green leaves. Blessed thistle has bristly stems, leaves, and flowers. The current Thistle Law includes three of the five species. It is a perennial that spreads by underground stems or rhizomes. are not as effective and there are no weevils or other insects available for biological Some of its leaves have white marbling. Helps in the Secretion of Bile in the Body. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The five invasive thistles that occur in Oklahoma are native to Europe and Asia and We can provide advice on how to control bull thistle, but there is generally no legal requirement to do so. This plant is a native. Legal status: Milk thistle is legal in the United States and sold over the counter, Suggested dose: No standard dose exists for milk thistle. It is not only edible but good for youit's just a little hard to disarm. You are currently not signed in. Plant-feeding insects are commonly found on bull thistle, Breastfeeding women produce a hormone called prolactin, which stimulates the production of breastmilk. Most thistles have very similar inflorescences, so the best way to ID a thistle is to look for other clues. Usually when I get a thistle bite I wait for it to swell up a little bit then squeeze it out like a splinter. are the most common and are considered true thistles. thistles should be considered invasive. They are distinct plants in the family Asteraceae. Milkweed is actually toxic to most animals and humans. An invasive, bushy plant, it grows up to 36 inches tall and is known for its heavy seed production. For distinguishing features, look at reproductive parts and leaves. Laguna meadow. Leaves illustrated in this Each plant typically has numerous small flowers clustered at the top with spineless Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. (Cirsium undulatum), distributed statewide; yellowspine (Cirsium ochrocentrum), in It is also commonly used to promote breast milk secretion for newly lactating mothers. Litter, or dead plant material, can prevent other species from growing around its base. Remember to always read the label for proper application sites and rates. in Nebraska and other northern states. Flowers are wider from a more tubular base than its relatives and are supported by stiff sepals at the base. Thistles are of the family Asteraceae. This wild edible takes two years to complete the growing cycle. This alluringly beautiful thistle was introduced from Europe. This is part of a talk I gave last week in Marin County. Yellowspine thistle may be helpful in treating diabetes, and was once taken as contraceptive by the Zuni people. Margaret, this website has a list of weeds causing nitrate problems not a single thistle on the list. Milk thistle is a plant in the Asteraceae family. Thanks for posting this - good info - I recall reading years ago that milk thistle (I think) is edible and some friends and I were trying to figure out which is which during this glorious spring. Russian thistles look like what most people would refer to as tumbleweed, with a dome shape and shallow roots that easily break off at ground level, where it can roll for great distances in the wind, spreading seeds along the way. Milk thistle is believed to help with liver, kidney, and gallbladder issues by reducing inflammation. The native thistles have 'whitish' undersides on their leaves. Its leaves are thinner and more lanceolate with prickles that are much shorter than other Cirsium species. Its lower leaves feature weak prickles with a silver underside. musk, scotch and Canada thistles to be noxious weeds and public nuisances in all counties Milk thistle is partial to rocky soil and can grow up to 4 feet tall. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Leaf lobes usually become deeper-cut, and All rights reserved. collected from established populations in Missouri. (Eryngium leavenworthii) and American basketflower (Centaurea americana) although More more effective control, cut plants with a sharp shovel at 1-2 inches below the soil surface prior to flowering. Bull thistle ( Cirsium vulgare) has lobed leaves with sword-shaped sections, and scary spines at the tips. 8 cups of vinegar. Begin with leaf patterns and edges, height, and the base of the flower. Bull thistle is aClassC Noxious Weed in Washington, first listed in 1988. California Thistle Cirsium occidentale var californicum is a Perennial herb native to the Santa Monica Mountains and endemic to California (i.e. The leaves on Bull thistle have spiny wings extending downwards, greenish undersides, and spines up to 1/2 inch long. It is best known as having a unique shaped flower and leaves that are somewhat prickly to the touch if not careful. Pull thistles before they bloom so their seeds don't spread in the wind. Even horses will help by picking out many of the nectar-rish flowers and eating them before they go to seed. u/Kolymos is correct in what they said. There are numerous types of thistles (Carduus spp. This isnt actually a thistle, but its capable of fooling the casual observer. populations in check. Mature Bull Thistle plant photo by Chris Evans via University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Identification She is also a journalist and marketing content creator who enjoys cooking and eating, both helpful hobbies for a gardener. From the origins of traditional medicine comes herbal medicines. tsp of liquid dish soap. Although it is intimidating in appearance and can sometimes form large infestations, this thistle is not as challenging to control as many others and is mainly a problem in hay fields and pastures. The striking yellow thistle (Cirsium horridulum). [] An excellent blog post by K. Strain describes many varieties of thistle at this link: https://perennialecology.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-a-guide-to-distinguishin… [], [] This series of photos was taken over a period of about a week, while I watched the flower emerge from its spikey bulb. No, blessed thistle is not the same as milk thistle. Bull thistle : Nonnative, not on noxious weed list : Pink to purple; occur in clusters at ends of branches : Tops of leaves are hairy and prickly (unidirectional); underside is cottony with prominently raised main veins : Spiny winged : 1-6feet : Biennial : Red flowers ; Cirsium andersonii : Anderson's thistle ; This insect will not get rid of the bull thistle, however, just reduce its impact. Its stems are blanketed in wooly white hairs. In some soils, milk thistle can become high in nitrates, which are linked to stomach cancers. red veins borne in spiny heads. in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California. In situations where prolactin production is inhibited, the milk supply can become insufficient. My neighbor is growing thistles that don't have spine's can you eat them as well. I just received this question: "Can the leaf of a milk thistle grow when left after removing the plant from my lawn? New Mexico thistle has radial spiny basal leaves and its blooms may be white or pink. Similar species: Native marsh thistle (Cirsium muticum) has non-spiny stems and flower heads. Other potential benefits include . American basketflower (Centaurea americana) is available through their catalog : https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=1010. introduced into the U.S. as biological control agents for musk thistle in the 1970s. Many Carduus species are annual or biennial rather than perennial; musk thistle (Carduus nutans), for example, is a biennial in USDA hardiness zones 7 and above, while Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) is usually an annual. Prevalent in the United States and Canada, bull thistle . which thistles on their land they are required to control. What distinguishes Field thistle from other native thistles may be a lighter hue and white hairs on stems that lack prickles, which form a mat on the underside of the leaves. The thistle has been used in traditional medicine to cure or alleviate a medley of illnesses for centuries. It has large (2 inches to 3 inches), single, nodding flowers at the end of each branch Milk thistle is also in the Asteraceae family of plants, but has distinct differences from blessed thistle. in the northeastern Oklahoma counties. Biological control: The bull thistle seed head gall fly (Urophora stylata) lays eggs on closed flower buds in June and July. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. hepatitis. Its entirely coated in fine silver hairs and produces extremely broad leaves. 250 lessons. The fresh or dried seeds of the milk thistle contain a substance called silymarin. While changing the wires I accidentally touched my face. as a nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies and other native pollinators as well