Cirsium edule

Cirsium edule, the edible thistle^[2] or Indian thistle,^[3] is a species of thistle in the genus Cirsium, native to western North America from southeastern Alaska south through British Columbia to Washington and Oregon, and locally inland to Idaho.^[4] It is a larval host to the mylitta crescent and the painted lady.^[5]

Cirsium edule
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Cirsium
Species:	C. edule
Binomial name
Cirsium edule Nutt.
Synonyms[1]
Carduus edulis (Nutt.) Greene Carduus hallii A.Heller Cirsium hallii (A.Gray) M.E.Jones Cnicus edulis (Nutt.) A.Gray Cnicus hallii A.Gray Carduus macounii Greene Cirsium macounii (Greene) Petr.

All the florets have similar form (Alpine Lakes Wilderness).

Cirsium edule is a tall herbaceous perennial plant, reaching 1–2 m (39–79 in) in height. The leaves are very spiny, lobed, 10–30 cm long and 2–5 cm broad (smaller on the upper part of the flower stem). The inflorescence is 3–4 cm diameter, purple, with numerous disc florets but no ray florets. The achenes are 4–5 mm long, with a downy pappus which assists in wind dispersal. It is monocarpic, growing as a low rosette of leaves for a number of years, then sending up the tall flowering stem in spring, with the plant dying after seed maturation.^[6]

Edible thistle is used by Native Americans for its edible roots and young shoots. The roots are sweet, but contain inulin, which gives some people digestive problems.^[7]

Varieties^[1][6]

• Cirsium edule var. edule - Oregon, Washington
• Cirsium edule var. macounii (Greene) D.J.Keil - Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska
• Cirsium edule var. edule wenatchense D.J.Keil - Washington^[8]