Spear Thistle

Appearance

It is a tall biennial or short-lived monocarpic thistle, forming a rosette of leaves and a taproot up to 70 cm long in the first year, and a flowering stem 1–1.5 m tall in the second year. The stem is winged, with numerous longitudinal spine-tipped wings along its full length.

The leaves are stoutly spined, grey-green, deeply lobed; the basal leaves up to 15–25 cm long, with smaller leaves on the upper part of the flower stem; the leaf lobes are spear-shaped . The inflorescence is 2.5–5 cm diameter, pink-purple, with all the florets of similar form. The seeds are 5 mm long, with a downy pappus, which assists in wind dispersal. As in other species of ''Cirsium'', the pappus hairs are feathery with fine side hairs.

Naming

Synonyms include ''Carduus vulgaris'' Savi , ''Carduus lanceolatus'' L., ''Cirsium lanceolatum'' Scop. , ''Cirsium balearicum'' Willk., ''Cirsium linkii'' Nyman, ''Cnicus lanceolatus'' Willd., ''Cirsium microcephalum'' sensu Lange, non Moris, ''Cirsium crinitum'' Boiss. ex DC., and ''Cirsium strigosum'' Cout. Other English names include bull thistle,, Scots,, Scottish or Scotch thistle and common thistle.

Habitat

Spear Thistle is often a ruderal species, colonising bare disturbed ground, but also persists well on heavily grazed land as it is unpalatable to most grazing animals. The flowers are a rich nectar source used by numerous pollinating insects, including Honey bees, Wool-carder bees, and many butterflies. The seeds are eaten by Goldfinches, Linnets and Greenfinches. The seeds are dispersed by wind, mud, water, and possibly also by ants; they do not show significant long-term dormancy, most germinating soon after dispersal and only a few lasting up to four years in the soil seed bank. Seed is also often spread by human activity such as hay bales.

Uses

The stems can be peeled and then steamed or boiled. The tap roots can be eaten raw or cooked, but only on young thistles that have not flowered yet.