Thankfully after about four days my swollen hand and forearm returned to normal. The term thistle is sometimes taken to mean precisely those plants in the tribe Cardueae (synonym: Cynareae),[2] especially the genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum. The thistle is also used to symbolise connection with Scotland overseas. [25][26] Other species, including dwarf thistle (Cirsium acaule), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), and melancholy thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum) have also been suggested.[27]. So far I’m really enjoying your site. Please. Comments or questions about this site, or for permission to use photos and information. Or said another way, there is no poisonous true thistle, but not all of them are palatable. All can be eaten raw, steamed or boiled. The combination of thistle and motto first appeared on the bawbee issued by King Charles II. The thistle is also the emblem of the Encyclopædia Britannica, which originated in Edinburgh, Scotland. In the Middle Ages, the thistle was an emblem of the Virgin Mary because its white sap would bring to mind the milk falling from the breast of the Mother of God. Also, the seed fluff when dry is great tinder. Are there any methods of treating thistles harvested from the side of the road that will eliminate or neutralize the chemicals? Some prairie and wildflower seed production companies supply bulk seed for native North American thistle species, for wildlife habitat restoration, although availability tends to be low. Are you saying that after it gets 5 feet you can’t eat it? IDENTIFICATION: Biennial or perennial herb, two to five feet high, basal and stem leaves lobed, lower stems leaves can be four to nine inches long, can be woolly in parts, second year stems stopped with shaving-brush flowers, purple or yellow. Thistle Hill Farm Farmstead Tarentaise is an aged alpine raw milk organic cheese handmade by John and Janine Putnam on their family farm in North Pomfret, Vermont from the certified organic milk of their grass-fed Jersey cows. Golfinches must have thistle-down with which to line their nests; without thistle-down, they will have a hard time nesting, and will need instead to gather spider-webbing or other soft material. Others determine the taste of milk thistle is sweet enough on its own. Sandra. The American Goldfinch begins its breeding season later in the year than any other finch and later than any other native North American bird, besides occasionally the Sedge Wren. Milk thistle seeds taste oily, sweet, and bitter all at the same time. First wash very well then break stalks in pieces b with your hands not v with a knife, that way the hard fibers are easier to peel away. What a wonderful heritage and memory. Can you comment on the edibility of Echinops adenocaulos which is very common in Israel? Milk thistle is the prickly one depicted in the photos above. Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. Is it possible to forage for milk thistle and can the same benefits be obtained from the plant or parts thereof? You can also brew it with other herbs that support your liver. In 1826 the grant of arms to the new National Bank of Scotland stipulates that the shield be surrounded by thistles and "thistle" is used as the name of several Scottish football clubs. I had this invasive scary looking plant that is about 3 ft tall when I noticed it. (So much for “free health care”). I don’t have any reference that lists it as edible. Although the taste may be a little bitter, you can add sugar or sugar substitutes or honey to your beverage to sweeten the taste. Another fact about thistles: Goldfinches use the fluff to line their nests. “Thistle” predominantly refers to a family of flowering plants characterized by prickly stems and leaves. [10] Similarly, some species of Silybum that occur as weeds, also are cultivated for seeds that yield vegetable oil and pharmaceutical compounds such as Silibinin. Milk thistle is a plant named for the white veins on its large prickly leaves.One of the active ingredients in milk thistle is silymarin, which is extracted from the plant's seeds. ", "University of Glasgow - The Hunterian - Visit - Exhibitions - Exhibition Programme - Scotland's Own Coinage", "Why is the THISTLE a Scottish national symbol? Thank you. Many find the taste comparable to a cross between hemp and . I did obtain some seeds for thistles and was disappointed until learned it can take a year or so for them to sprout. Horridulum means a little spiny, clearly a joke by Andre Michaeux the botanist who named it. Since I was a small child, my grandmother and mom and I would go each year in the 40 days of Lent to pick these. Dr Oz recommends them for liver detoxification. Spines on leaves were too sharp to hold. Goldfinches like the seeds, too. Photo by Green Deane. [12] The flowers are favorites of Tiger Swallowtails, an occasional Silver Spangled Fritillary, and of course our humming bird love them. If so, is there an easy way to do this with a lot of seeds? I picked young small thistles without gloves by grasping them right at the ground level, where spines are few. What Conditions Does Milk Thistle Treat! Another thistle i’ve found in rosette has a lot of 1″ or so long, very flexible spines. What Does Buddha Teas Milk Thistle Tea Taste Like? I only know that the first time I tried a sample of these at my eye doctor’s office I knew they were different. Thistle flowers are the favourite nectar sources of the pearl-bordered fritillary, small pearl-bordered fritillary, high brown fritillary, and dark green fritillary butterflies. And should you be in the wilderness with little but a thistle for protection, know the Seminole Indians made blowgun darts from the plant. Star Thistle Honey Harvested in late Summer Click to Order Star Thistle Honey Click to Order Raw Star Thistle Honey Star Thistle honey is a very fine mild honey. So much good information!! In the second year plant the inner core of the flower stalks is quite tasty and not that much work. A small hand-cranked oil expeller works well. Thank you for sharing so much detailed info though. Otherwise, you can add it to some food or water. In some species the branching can be throughout the stalk, in the bull thistle branching occurs only on top. Milk Thistle Protects Your Liver. Thanks for sharing what you have learned along the way. Common name of a group of flowering plants. You can forgive it of it’s spines when you grind it and get that sweet juice. Some reports say they like wet areas but that certainly is not the case here in Florida. You might want to visit Foraging Texas to get the exact name of the species. Thistles can be found from valley bottoms to mountain tops. The first-year root and leaves are edible, but there isn’t much of a root for a while. “It's a distinctive taste, characteristic of edible wild plants in general: a bright green note that makes you sit up and pay attention, with a peppery zing. Incidentally, it’s shaving brush-shaped flowers can be purple or yellow. The flowers, of course look like thistle flowers and i’m darned if i can tell the different species apart. Both the Order of the Thistle and the Scots Guards use the motto Nemo me impune lacessit, the motto of the House of Stuart and referring to the thistle's prickly nature. Have a common Thislte that is over 6 feet high in the bush here, Canada. As I mentioned above Milk Thistle Seed powder has a very mild taste, so it’s easy to add to smoothies and soups as a thickener. If not I’m sure I could print out what’s on your site. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. Personally, I have never seen a yellow one. Cardoon leaf stalks, which look like giant celery stalks, can be served steamed or braised, and have an artichoke-like flavour with a hint of bitterness. The thistle is covered with needles that break easily. and other butterflies. (I still wouldn’t know they where called thistles if it wasn’t for your awesome website!) The flower is thorny around it and I’m really looking for edible thistle flower to eat and make some tea…sigh! Dinner here I come! I have eaten thistle with no ill effects, the same day I was stuck my the thistle I was also bitten by red ants and stuck my the dorsal barb on a sunfish, I told all this to the doc but I dont think it ment anything to him, I guess I may never know what made my arm blow up like a fat kids sock. I was wondering if you can use the flower to make tea or wine? I did notice that the Blue Orchard Mason Bees really like the thistle plant! But I rarely see any purplish ones, I always see the yellow ones and they get boring in color after awhile. It is a thick, light honey, and some would say it smells like almonds. Do you have a website? That’s too labor intense. There was a little roughness in my smoothie, a slight prickliness, and I could chew on little bits of leaf, but the spines were no longer sharp at all somehow. Milk thistle, or silybum marianum, has been used as a herbal healer since ancient Greek times. If you love the taste like we do, take a few sips straight throughout the day for maximum effect. Silymarin is a flavonoid believed to have antioxidant properties.Milk thistle is sold as an oral capsule, tablet, powder and liquid extract. The down was used as guide feathers for arrows. I ate some fresh stalk pieces, and I peeled and cooked four more stalks. Then I put in some salt and spices – delicious green drink. I think the stalk boiled a few minutes and then served with butter, salt and pepper is absolutely delicious, for a green. What does milk thistle tea taste like? I have star thistle is the flower edible and all the leaves and roots…I’m like don’t know what to do..please help! Known as the silent disease, because of how it causes harm to the body … Thanks for reading my long story lol. In the middle ages, the leaves were used in salads, but these days the seeds are most commonly used in supplements. However, depending on the type of thistle nectar predominant in the honey, it may taste slightly earthy, leathery or almondy or have an anise-like aftertaste. I had always meant to get on Google and see what they were but I kept forgetting to do it. But not to worry; we like adding a favorite flavor to our cup of beneficial Milk Thistle Tea , … Thistles (and thistle-seed feeders) also provide important sustenance for goldfinches and are strongly favored by many butterflies besides fritillaries such as the monarch, skippers, and the various types of tiger swallowtail[disambiguation needed]. Note the basal rosette, photo by Green Deane. I forgot to add that artichokes are a type of thistle. Would like to learn if eating or juicing thistle would help in any way. Milk thistle tea is milky and it has a smooth texture. Tossed away seeds and tossed away wishes finally sprouted with pink purple blossoms.YAHOO – THISTLES EXIST AND THRIVE. The leaves are still edible if you strip them of spines as are the bottom of the flower buds, though the bud bottoms aren’t much more than a nibble. In Italy, Thistle honey, called Miele de Cardo or Cardu pintu, and in English also known as Cardoon honey, is produced mainly in Sicily and Sardinia, and to a lesser extent, in Calabria and the island of Elba.Usually the product of several thistle species, it might be more aptly named “Thistles Honey”. Milk Thistle Seeds truly are one of a kind. It can help prevent elevation of liver enzymes, which can be a side effect of the medication. Star thistle is a popular monofloral honey. Very spiny, one tough plant. The native American one (C. americana) has hydrocyanic acid and is toxic to livestock, particulary horses, and is bitter. A good thorn in my saddle! But my favorite part of the thistle to eat is the long stem. Copyright 2007-2018 – This web page is the property of Green Deane, LLC. Hi, in Italy we stew milk thistle with sausages in tomato sauce with herbs of your choice. The two symbols became hugely popular among the local people during the Battle of Nancy in 1477, during which the Lorrain army defeated Burgundy. Can also be used with acorns and palm seeds. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Raw, boil or steamed hollow inner stalks peeled of green outer fiber; core of unopened flower buds, when cooked squeezed out like artichoke leaves; stripped midribs raw or cooked. Biennial thistles are particularly noteworthy for their high wildlife value, producing such things as copious floral resources for pollinators, nourishing seeds for birds like the goldfinch, foliage for butterfly larvae, and down for the lining of birds' nests.[4][5][6]. I tried a smoothie too, after finding only one recipe for it and no others on the web, a dubious situation. Thanks for sharing the info and getting me started with this intriguing plant, I’m hooked wanting to know more. If you could even provide some identification guide for plants in the genus, that’d be great. (Also, on something almost completely unrelated, it’s a cute linguistic and conceptual hop from kirsos, varicose veins, to kissos, which means ivy.). The ones here get to at least 5 ft tall. For example, in Canada, it is one of the four floral emblems on the flag of Montreal; in the US, Carnegie Mellon University features the thistle in its crest in honour of the Scottish heritage of its founder, Andrew Carnegie, and Annapolis, Maryland features the thistle in its flag and seal. It strongly protects, repairs and nourishes the liver, stomach and intestines. Ask your local librarian. Share on Pinterest. [28], The thistle and the cross were used again by his grandson, René II, Duke of Lorraine, who introduced them in the region. I let a thistle grow in my yard last year just to see what it looked like. The tips go right into my skin and i can definitely see (feel?) I can’t find much information on its uses (if any) on the internet though. What does thistle honey taste and smell like? Some thistle honeys have a simple, mildly sweet taste. Thistles, you’re either going to love ’em or hate em. WHAT IT DOES: Milk thistle seed is sweet in taste and cooling in action. Unless it’s a different type of plant. Anyone ever eaten the leaves cooked like greens? The thistle, and more precisely Onopordum acanthium, is one of the symbols of Lorraine, together with its coat of arms which displays three avalerions, and the Cross of Lorraine. Although milk thistle is considered in many areas an invasive weed, centuries ago it was grown as a vegetable crop in Europe. . I sat down and pulled them out and wondered if they were poisonous. In fact, it has an edible stem. These are some of the few Milk Thistle seeds that you will find certified organic. Plus, you can use the leaves in … (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. I’m like scared to do that and like really the thorns are gone. Today, after I feed my animals I went around the property to see where they grew the most. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. ( I am new to this part of the world and wanted to see it up close.) I am surprised that no one has mentioned the CRITICAL role thistle plays in goldfinch reproduction . It has a nice nutty taste. Your page was really interesting and kept me from playing games while I read it. Thank you everyone! Perfect Press ® Milk Thistle Oil has a smooth, malty taste. Is there any way to ensure (just in case it’s not edible) that I don’t have a Carthamus? Oh, and a parting factoid: Thistle root gives some folks gas. RATING: Silver. I knew they’re weed but had a feeling there was more to them. What does it taste like? Similarly, the same is true for our pets! I am only 15 but when we moved to another part of Magnolia Texas three years ago I started seeing these weird but cool plants. Lorraine is a region located in northeastern France, along the border with Luxembourg and Germany. how a deer or buffalo touching one of those with it’s nose would not try to eat it. Genera in the Asteraceae with the word thistle often used in their common names include: Plants in families other than Asteraceae which are sometimes called thistle include: Thistles, even if one restricts the term to members of the Asteraceae, are too varied a group for generalisation; many are troublesome weeds, including some invasive species of Cirsium, Carduus, Silybum and Onopordum. I guess the spines all came off their leaves so had no base for attack. Not much, to be honest. Which species of thistle is referred to in the original legend is disputed. I have several in our fields. For that reason, they breed late in the summer, waiting for the fluff. Thanks for any input. The coat of arms and crest of Nova Scotia - "New Scotland" - briefly Scotland's colony, has since the 17th century featured thistles. This is a key species for native butterflies here. I let one grow and it as eaten by a deer once it reached my height lol. thankfully they weren’t. They can recommend books. Canadian thistle is also difficult to control and can quickly infect gardens and fields. Generally, thistle honey is moderately sweet and has a decidedly floral, sometimes pungent, anise or cinnamon-like aroma, depending on the flower that is the source of nectar. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website. Think of it this way. . Let these be sown, and their crop will amount to 576 millions. It seems through his book Livre du cuer d'amours espris that the Duke chose the thistle as his emblem not only because it was a Christian symbol, but also because he associated it with physical love. The worst thing that happens is that it gets very very painful before the rest of the Thorne comes out. It was later adopted as a personal symbol by René of Anjou, together with the Cross of Lorraine, then known as the Cross of Anjou. In the end – no thorns at all – perfectly smooth. We drink it for pleasure — any medicinal benefits are just icing on the cake to us. Ants leave it alone. [5] Although such organizations focus on the benefits of native thistles, certain non-native thistles, such as Cirsium vulgare in North America, may provide similar benefits to wildlife. The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus for instance, was highlighted as traditionally relying upon taller large-flowered thistle species such as Tall thistle, Cirsium altissimum, for its migration. Is anyone interested in being paid for wild collection? What does Milk Thistle Oil Taste like? I haven’t done milk thistle (Silybum marianum) only because I haven’t gotten around to it. Depending where you live they might get too old by Easter to eat after that. Do you have a book with photos so one could forage without a computer as reference? You can buy supplements of milk thistle. Canadian thistle grows a round purple flower that quickly turns into a white dandelion-like seed. When I was a boy growing up in southern Maine this thistle grew every year across the road from our house. Cutting down the stalk boiled a few minutes and then served with butter, salt and spices – delicious drink! I picked young small thistles without gloves by grasping them right at the same flora, later including leek. Ones and they get boring in color after awhile be done with tools! No others on the flat parts of the Encyclopædia Britannica stalk, in Willamette... 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Equipment to go from seed to oil the long stem by the ingestion of toxins such as cardiac glycosides cyclosporine.: thistles, you can use the fluff, sweeten, and of course our humming bird them.
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