In article ,
wrote:
On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:18:36 -0700 (PDT), mleblanca
wrote:
On Apr 24, 7:36 pm, wrote:
On Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:16:02 -0500, Charlie wrote:
On Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:39:51 +1000, "FarmI" ask@itshall be given
wrote:
Thistles are actually wonderful plants as they are 'deep miners'. What I
mean by that is that they send their roots down waaaay deep and bring
minerals up into the top soil.
This is a point too often not made and too often forgotten.
Thistles are good additions to the compost pile, because of this deep
mining, provided they are nicked out before seeding.
Charlie
Thistles smell good too, but I still think it's wild lettuce. I
suppose one way to tell is if the OP screams when they step on it. 
Kate
Kate
I agree that it is a Lactuca, or maybe a Sonchus, sow thistle.
The leaves are immature and its difficult to tell the difference at
this stage.
I don't think the leaves are dentate or prickly enough to be a true
thistle (Circium)
Doesn't mention flower color.
Emilie
NorCal
Hey Emilie,
In TN, it's too early for the sow thistles and wild lettuce to bloom,
but the 1 thistle I'm aware of in my yard is just days away from
blooming.
To me, sow thistles are easier to mistake for milk or Canadian thistle
in the early stages - both look dangerous but the sow thistle isn't.
The wild lettuce, admittedly a favorite of mine, doesn't look
threatening to me. (I harvest the leaves - they have a mild sedative
effect.)
Kate
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....chus+oleraceus
Sonchus oleraceus - L.
Sow Thistle
Edibility Rating 2 (1-5) Medicinal Rating 2 (1-5)
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves; Root; Stem.
Edible Uses: Gum.
Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 9, 13, 54]. This species has the
nicest tasting leaves of the genus[153], they usually have a mild
agreeable flavour[217] especially in the spring[K]. They can be added to
salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc[183]. The leaves
contain about 30 - 40mg of vitamin C per 100g[173], 1.2% protein, 0.3%
fat, 2.4% carbohydrate, 1.2% ash[179]. A zero moisture analysis is also
available[218]. It might be best, though it is not essential, to remove
the marginal prickles[9]. Stems - cooked like asparagus or rhubarb[12].
They are best if the outer skin is removed first[183]. Young root -
cooked[12]. They are woody and not very acceptable[144]. The milky sap
has been used as a chewing gum by the Maoris of New Zealand[183].
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse
effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional
before using a plant medicinally.
Cancer; Emmenagogue; Febrifuge; Hepatic; Hydrogogue; Poultice; Tonic;
Warts.
The plant is emmenagogue and hepatic[61, 257]. An infusion has been used
to bring on a tardy menstruation and to treat diarrhoea[257]. The latex
in the sap is used in the treatment of warts[218]. It is also said to
have anticancer activity[218]. The stem juice is a powerful hydrogogue
and cathartic, it should be used with great caution since it can cause
colic and tenesmus[218]. The gum has been used as a cure for the opium
habit[257]. The leaves are applied as a poultice to inflammatory
swellings[4]. An infusion of the leaves and roots is febrifuge and
tonic[240].
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http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....lybum+marianum
Silybum marianum - (L.)Gaertn.
Milk Thistle
Edibility Rating 3 (1-5) Medicinal Rating 5 (1-5)
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root; Stem.
Edible Uses: Coffee; Oil.
Root - raw or cooked[1, 2, 4, 52, 183]. A mild flavour and somewhat
mucilaginous texture[K]. When boiled, the roots resemble salsify
(Tragopogon hispanicus)[1, 4, 115]. Leaves - raw or cooked[1, 4, 5, 52,
89, 115]. The very sharp leaf-spines must be removed first[46, 183],
which is quite a fiddly operation[K]. The leaves are quite thick and
have a mild flavour when young, at this time they are quite an
acceptable ingredient of mixed salads, though they can become bitter in
hot dry weather[K]. When cooked they make an acceptable spinach
substitute[238]. It is possible to have leaves available all year round
from successional sowings[K]. Flower buds - cooked[1, 238]. A globe
artichoke substitute[12, 183], they are used before the flowers open.
The flavour is mild and acceptable, but the buds are quite small and
even more fiddly to use than globe artichokes[K]. Stems - raw or
cooked[4, 100]. They are best peeled and can be soaked to reduce the
bitterness[5, 183]. Palatable and nutritious[4, 115], they can be used
like asparagus or rhubarb[12] or added to salads. They are best used in
spring when they are young[105]. A good quality oil is obtained from the
seeds[4]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[21, 46, 61, 183].
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse
effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional
before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent; Bitter; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emetic;
Emmenagogue; Hepatic; Homeopathy; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic.
Blessed thistle has a long history of use in the West as a remedy for
depression and liver problems[254]. Recent research has confirmed that
it has a remarkable ability to protect the liver from damage resulting
from alcoholic and other types of poisoning[254]. The whole plant is
astringent, bitter, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic,
emmenagogue, hepatic, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[4, 21, 160, 165,
238]. It is used internally in the treatment of liver and gall bladder
diseases, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis and poisoning[238]. The plant
is harvested when in flower and dried for later use[238]. Silymarin, an
extract from the seed, acts on the membranes of the liver cells
preventing the entry of virus toxins and other toxic compounds and thus
preventing damage to the cells[244]. It also dramatically improves liver
regeneration in hepatitis, cirrhosis, mushroom poisoning and other
diseases of the liver[222, 238, 254]. German research suggests that
silybin (a flavonoid component of the seed) is clinically useful in the
treatment of severe poisoning by Amanita mushrooms[222]. Seed extracts
are produced commercially in Europe[222]. Regeneration of the liver is
particularly important in the treatment of cancer since this disease is
always characterized by a severely compromised and often partially
destroyed liver[K]. A homeopathic remedy is obtained from equal parts of
the root and the seed with its hulls still attached[4]. It is used in
the treatment of liver and abdominal disorders[9].
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http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Cirsium+arvense
Cirsium arvense - (L.)Scop.
Creeping Thistle (a.k.a.) Canadian Thistle
Edibility Rating 2 (1-5) Medicinal Rating 2 (1-5)
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves; Root; Stem.
Edible Uses: Curdling agent.
Root of first year plants - raw or cooked[183]. Nutritious but rather
bland, they are best used in a mixture with other vegetables[9]. The
root is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by
humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system
and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence[K]. Stems - they are
peeled and cooked like asparagus or rhubarb[9, 12, 177, 183]. Leaves -
raw or cooked[177, 183]. A fairly bland flavour, but the prickles need
to be removed before the leaves can be eaten - not only is this rather
fiddly but very little edible leaf remains[K]. The leaves are also used
to coagulate plant milks etc[46, 61, 183].
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse
effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional
before using a plant medicinally.
Antiphlogistic; Astringent; Diuretic; Emetic; Emmenagogue; Hepatic;
Tonic.
The root is tonic, diuretic, astringent, antiphlogistic and
hepatic[207]. It has been chewed as a remedy for toothache[4]. A
decoction of the roots has been used to treat worms in children[257]. A
paste of the roots, combined with an equal quantity of the root paste of
Amaranthus spinosus, is used in the treatment of indigestion[272]. The
plant contains a volatile alkaloid and a glycoside called cnicin, which
has emetic and emmenagogue properties[240]. The leaves are
antiphlogistic[207]. They cause inflammation and have irritating
properties[207[.
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Eat it.
--
- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being
is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the
moment of conception until death." - Rachel Carson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI29wVQN8Go
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072040.html