Cirsium heterophyllum

Description

Unusually for a thistle, Cirsium heterophyllum lacks spines. Growing 45-120 cm tall, the plant forms creeping stolons (runners). The stem is grooved but unwinged, more-or-less branchless, and cottony. The leaves are green and hairless above, thick white-felted underneath. The basal leaves are lanceolate with petioles and softly prickly edges, and grow 20-40 cm long, and 4-8 cm wide. The upper leaves do not have petioles, clasping the stem with cordate (heart-shaped) bases. The flower heads are 3 to 5 cm long and wide, the flowers red-purple, appearing from July to August.

Distribution

Cirsium heterophyllum is a species of northern Europe and Central Asia. It is native in upland areas of Scotland and northern England and north Wales, but is rare in other parts of Great Britain and Ireland. It is present throughout Scandinavia, in north central Europe and Russia to about 100 degrees East and in the high mountains of southern Europe. It grows in upland grassland and scrub, open woodland and river valleys.

Similar species

Cirsium dissectum (meadow thistle) is a more slender species.

Medical use

The plant was considered a possible cure for sadness. Nicholas Culpepper in 1669 said that it "makes a man as merry as a cricket".

References

References

1. {{BSBI 2007
2. [http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=cirsium+heterophyllum Altervista Flora Italiana, Cardo con foglie variabili, Melancholy Thistle, ''Cirsium heterophyllum'' (L.) Hill] includes photos and European distribution map
3. Rose, Francis. (1981). "The Wild Flower Key". Frederick Warne & Co.
4. (2003). "Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora.". A & C Black.
5. "Den virtuella floran: ''Cirsium helenioides'' (L.) Hill".
6. Stace, C. A.. (2010). "New Flora of the British Isles". Cambridge University Press.
7. [http://www.ukwildflowers.com Wildflowers of the British Isles]