Cirsium vulgare

Botanical Description

Cirsium vulgare is a prickly, biennial plant growing from a long taproot; it produces a basal cluster of leaves and an erect, flowering stem around 30 - 150cm tall[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. Cirsium vulgare is a pernicious weed that spreads freely by means of its seed which can be dispersed by the wind over a large area. The seedlings are capable of establishing themselves in grassland. The plant has become naturalized as a weed in many parts of the world[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].