''Cirsium edule'', the edible thistle or Indian thistle, is a species of thistle in the genus '' Cirsium'', native to western

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

from southeastern Alaska south through British Columbia to Washington and Oregon, and locally inland to Idaho. It is a larval host to the mylitta crescent and the painted lady. ''Cirsium edule'' is a tall

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial plant, reaching in height. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are very spiny, lobed, 10–30 cm long and 2–5 cm broad (smaller on the upper part of the flower stem). The inflorescence is 3–4 cm diameter, purple, with numerous disc florets but no ray florets. The

achene An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...

s are 4–5 mm long, with a downy pappus which assists in wind dispersal. It is monocarpic, growing as a low rosette of leaves for a number of years, then sending up the tall flowering stem in spring, with the plant dying after seed maturation.Flora of North America, Edible thistle, cardon, Cirsium edule Nuttall, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 420. 1841.
/ref> Edible thistle is used by Native Americans for its edible roots and young shoots. The roots are sweet, but contain inulin, which gives some people digestive problems. ;Varieties * ''Cirsium edule'' var. ''edule'' - Oregon, Washington * ''Cirsium edule'' var. ''macounii'' (Greene) D.J.Keil - Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska * ''Cirsium edule'' var. ''edule'' wenatchense D.J.Keil - WashingtonKeil, David John 2004. Sida 21(1): 213
/ref>

References

External links

Turner Photographics Pacific Northwest WildflowersLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of TexasCalphotos photo gallery, University of California
edule Flora of North America Edible plants Plants described in 1841 {{Cynareae-stub