Sow Thistle with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts From Foraging Foodie. One of the most common uses of milk thistle is to treat liver problems. The outer reddish-green layer easily splits away from the delicious inner light-green layer. In this case, yes. This is a nutritious plant that contains several minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc) and vitamins ( A, B1, B2, B3, B6, & C). No economic uses are known for S. asper, making the risk of intentional introductions low. 1. ---Parts Used---Leaves, stems, milky juice.The Sow-Thistle is a well-known weed in every field and garden. Several varieties of thistle are used medicinally. Supports liver health. The main difference between the two is that the annual sow thistle has much smaller flowers (less than 2.5 cm across) than the perennial sow thistle. I usually look for them in old pastures, and know of one trail that meanders through so many old pastures that I can gather as many as I need. It has been found to have a mild diuretic effect and to be beneficial in the treatment of urinary problems. BUTTERED SOW-THISTLE. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. S. asper. However, this cosmopolitan weed is a prolific seed producer and its tiny seeds can be easily dispersed by human activities, as a contaminant in crop and grass seed, a hitchhiker on footwear, or attached to animals, which increases the risk of spread ( Hutchinson et al., 1984 ; GISD, 2018 ; PROTA, 2018 ). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. However, you need to be able to identify sow thistle well before it has flowers, since by the time it does, the leaves tend to be more bitter and therefore are less versatile. Common sow thistle is in the Compositae (Asteraceae) family. Short to tall plant, hairless except for a few glandular hairs on the upper stem. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Prickly Sow Thistle, Prickly Sow-thistle, Spiny Sowthistle, Spiny Sow-thistle, Spiny-leaf Sow-thistle: Sonchus asper (Synonyms: Sonchus asper ssp. Incidentally, young Sonchus asper may seem prickly when raw but its soften when cooked (unless you picked them way to old.) Prickly Sow-thistle Prickly Sow-thistle - Sonchus asper. Smooth Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) is a species from the Asteraceae or Compositae family.Also known by a variety of common names including common sow thistle, sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's thistle, hare's lettuce, hare's colwort, milk thistle (not Silybum marianum) and swinies.It is a native biennial commonly found in Europe including the British Isles. Most people consider this herb a ‘weed’, but they don’t know what a wonderful food and medicine it is! Both are very similar in habit, distribution and appearance. The perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis) is often confused with the annual sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). since ancient time (Hutchinson et al., ... the use of medicinal plants and their components is nowadays on a priority list [51][52][53]. 1 tsp. Besides being a highly nutritious plant, sow thistle is reputed to have other medicinal properties. The leaves of prickly sow thistle have spines on them and are best trimmed before consumption. asper, Sonchus asper ssp. Butter or oil. Also unlike bull thistle stem fibers, sow thistle fibers make poor cordage. Find the perfect sow thistle stock photo. To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.). Ground nutmeg – pinch. The potential health benefits of milk thistle are explored below. The medicinal virtues of smooth sowthistle (S. oleraceus) were believed to be similar to dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Colour of the fruit can range from yellow and light green to orange, pink, and red. Thistles are a bane of picnickers and campers. It is a perennial, growing from 1 to 3 feet high, with hollow thick, branched stems full of milky juice, and thin, oblong leaves, more or less cut into (pinnatifid) with irregular, prickly teeth on the margins. Species; Additional images; Click here to support NatureSpot by making a donation - small or large - your gift is very much appreciated. Sow thistle as a medicinal herb. Wild Lettuce is also known as opium lettuce, bitter lettuce, wild opium, horse thistle, China lettuce and prickly lettuce. Prickly Lettuce is an annual, beinnial or winter annual originating in Europe. The leaves are also great to use as an antioxidant. It is not frost tender. The steamed stalk/leaves go great with steamed carrots. Thistles are wide spread, generally growing in poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. asper) 1 or 2 handfuls sow-thistle leaves – young. Flowers . Salt and pepper . Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. Sow Thistle vs Prickly Lettuce 5-25-19 TNWoman TANya Neill. https://foragedfoodie.blogspot.com/2016/03/sow-thistle-capers.html Sonchus oleraceus Download Data Sheet Puha, or puwha is also known as sow thistle or milk thistle (not to be confused with St Mary’s Thistle, also called milk thistle). My favorite way to eat sow thistle is to pick and steam the young plants before they've produced any flower buds. In a study of seedbanks in some arable soils in the English midlands sampled in 1972-1973, prickly sow-thistle was recorded in 53% of the fields sampled in … The hollow stem. Prickly sow-thistle grows on most soils but prefers well drained slightly acid to alkaline soils, and has some tolerance of saline conditions. No need to register, buy now! glaucescens, Sonchus nymanii, Sonchus oleraceus var. These are generally the Bull Thistle, which is both medicinal and an excellent wild edible. Infusion of sow thistle … Bull thistle (Cirsium horridulum), also called bristly thistle, is an herb with distinctive […] Comparing flowers: Perennial Sowthistle with Prickly Lettuce insert Identification: The spiny leaf margins, prominent and whitish and midvein on lower leaves along with the row of sharp prickles on Sow thistle's flowers are very similar to dandelion flowers- made up of many tiny yellow petals, in the shape of half a pompom. But while most gardeners consider bull thistle as invasive plants, you can use certain types of thistle as a food source, an herbal remedy, and emergency cordage. Partially-peeled stem. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, hoverflies. Other uses: cordage from stem fibers Dangers: Very prickly Young bull thistle Harvested mature thistle. Beef stock or water. Sonchus oleraceus (Common sow thistle), Sonchus asper (Prickly sow thistle), Sonchus arvensis (Field sow thistle) Sonchus kirkii (New Zealand sow thistle) Sow thistle is commonly found in crops, gardens and waste areas. You want to peel away the stem's outer red-green layer. Sonches Olearaceus Photo: (c) Harry Rose CC BY 2.0 license. Figure 1. Buttered Prickly Sowthistle Tips; Herbal Medicine Uses of Sowthistle. Thank you. It is not frost tender. Yellow and like small Dandelion flowers but many can grow from one stem, unlike Dandelions. flour. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. (h/t to PreppersWill.com) What is bull thistle? Prickly pears grow at the edge of the leaves and are covered in thorns, owing to its name. Growing like a Dandelion clock. Family: Asteraceae Growth Habit: Tasmania has one native and two species of introduced Sow Thistles: Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) and Prickly Sow Thistle (S. asper). Sonchus oleraceus is a BIENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). Sonchus asper is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). Moreover, prickly sow thistle has been used as pot h erb . Wear thick gloves. Weeds like bull thistle aren’t usually welcome in home gardens. SOW-THISTLE, COMMON---Synonyms---Hare's Thistle.Hare's Lettuce. Sow thistles have been used as fodder, particularly for rabbits, hence the other common names of "hare thistle" or "hare lettuce".They are also edible to humans as a leaf vegetable; old leaves and stalks can be bitter but young leaves have a flavour similar to lettuce.Going by the name puha or rareke (raraki) it is frequently eaten in New Zealand as a vegetable, particularly by the native Māori. Lactuca virosa (great or greater prickly lettuce) and Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce) have similar medicinal properties. Its juicy stem oozes a creamy milk like dandelion, which was used as a cure for warts. It’s been used for generations by Native American peoples, and while researching the medicinal uses I found a bit more insight into why someone might go through the effort of skinning out a leaf mid-rib. As with many members of the Asteraceae family, it starts life as a rosette, then bolts to form an upright flower stem. Is prickly lettuce the same as wild lettuce? Who hasn't trodden on the sharp, unforgiving spines of a thistle when out and about barefoot in grasslands? Photos: (c) Oliver Pichard CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Chris Hope explains the medicinal benefits of the thistle, an abundant 'weed' with many uses. Description. Packed with various health benefits, opuntia can help lower high cholesterol levels, improve the … It’s a member of the Asteraceae family […] Description. Common Name : Prickly sow thistle, Sharp fringed sow thistle, Spiny Milk Thistle Botanical name : Sonchus asper Order : Asterales Family : Asteraceae Origin / Native : Africa Height :Up to 72 inches tall Type : Annual Category : Herb Genus : Sonchus Uses : Medicinal Medicinal Uses of Bull Thistle Given that it’s technically edible but not a great source of food, perhaps it’s best thought of as a wild medicinal. Seeds . ... Folklore tells of this plant having many medicinal uses and it was treated just like Dandelion. Sonchus asper, the prickly sow-thistle, rough milk thistle, spiny sowthistle, sharp-fringed sow thistle, or spiny-leaved sow thistle, is a widespread plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Sow Thistle, Prickly Sow Thistle (Sonchus asper) supplied by member gardeners in the PlantFiles database at Dave's Garden. 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