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COMMON NAME: Bull Thistle
OTHER COMMON NAME(S):
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cirsium vulgare
FAMILY: Asteraceae
COMMUNITY: Edge
STATUS: Naturalized native of Eurasia
LIFESPAN: Biennial
HEIGHT: 1.5 to 5 feet
FLOWERING TIME: Late June to November
FRUITING TIME: September to November
DISTRIBUTION: Found throughout North America ~ Statewide in NJ
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Stem prickly-winged. Leaves copiously
spreading-hirsute, strongly spiny at top, prickly, with the larger ones
lobed. Flowers rose- purple resembling
a “shaving brush” in heads
GENERAL INFORMATION:
This large family (Asteraceae), commonly called the Aster Family, consists
of 1,314 genera and 21,000 species of herbs, shrubs, climbers and a few
trees is found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions.
The plants are of value to man as ornamentals; a few are insecticides
and fish poisons. Although some consider the mature plant toxic,
it has been reported that the young leaves of the Bull Thistle, with the
spines removed, can be used in salad and as cooked greens; the pithy young
stems can be eaten raw or cooked and prepared as a vegetable. The raw
or cooked roots of the first-year plants are excellent survival food.
According to Scottish legend, the Norsemen invaded Scotland
during the reign of Malcom I (938-958 A. D.) and surrounded the Staines
Castle. One night the Norsemen
took off their footgear to wade the moat, only to find it dry and filled
with a thistle in this family, Scotch Thistle (Onopordon acanthium). Their painful yells and curses roused the Scottish
garrison and the Norsemen were soundly defeated. In Memory of this victory the thistle because
the flower emblem of Scotland. In
1687 James VII founded the Most Noble and Most Ancient Order of the Thistle
of Scotland.
Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit
is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park
regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated
trails. This information is presented for educational purposes.
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