Leaves and flowers can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups, casseroles, etc.. We are not health professionals, medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists. Medicinal Plants of China Publication Author Duke. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. You can't get more edible than that! The white sap from the stem is thought to be healing to the skin. You have given me a graduate seminar on it, which I appreciate. Thank you so much for this info. I guess they're called sow thistles because they resemble thistles, which I'm used to from Scotland, just a different color. The common name 'sow thistle' derives from its attractiveness to swine and the similarity of its leaf to the pig's ear. My favorite way to eat sow thistle is to pick and steam the young plants before they've produced any flower buds. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons: Tony Wills). Sow thistle leaves are said to be a good source of vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They have sparse hairs on the upper leaf surface. Since water’s not exactly limited here in Vermont it hadn’t occurred to me. Sow thistle has a hollow stem. Identification, health, When the leaves get older, they get more tough and often get a purplish tinge to them. A report from Garden Organic (formerly the Henry Doubleday Research Association) notes that 150-year-old sow thistle seeds recovered from excavations have been reported to still be viable for germination. A. and Ayensu. Great work, Joan! Click, All listed plants are found in central-east Canada and 1 bunch of sow thistle leaves (about one pound) 1 clove of garlic, minced 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (or more if you like) Goat cheese, crumbled Pine nuts Olive oil 1/4 cup chicken broth salt and pepper Nutmeg to taste. The leaves, stalks, flowers and flowerbuds are edible raw. Prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper, is Vitamin C and Manganese dense herb support for wounds, burns, cough, asthma, gastrointestinal infection, diabetes, cardiac dysfunction, kidney and liver disorders, jaundice and cancer Jennifer P Tanabe from Red Hook, NY on August 14, 2009: Fascinating! I going to try some cooked too. The scientific name's latin roots are: sonchus, hollow stem and oleraceus, delectable nature, herb used in cooking. Propagation of Common Thistle: Seed - sow early spring or autumn in situ. The mature leaves are thin, soft and dark-green in colour with irregularly-toothed margins ending in small, soft spines. Common sow thistle is in the Compositae (Asteraceae) family. Miha Gasper from Ljubljana, Slovenia, EU on September 01, 2012: We don't appreciate what nature gives us. Vicki Green from Wandering the Pacific Northwest USA on July 10, 2010: I always find learning about common edible plants fascinating. Thank You so much I found this veryy very helpful <3. Sow Thistle with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts From Foraging Foodie. It got the name Sow Thistle from the fact that when cut the plant exudes a latex like milk which was believed to help lactation in mothering sows. A zero moisture analysis is also available [218]. The unusually large Canarian species of sow thistle has been described as ‘veritable medicine chests’ due to the range of active chemical substances they contain. Sow thistle was introduced to the Americas by European settlers who brought it over as a garden vegetable. This picture is actually Sonchus arvensis, but S. oleraceus has the same kind of stem. Sow thistles are like the more rough-and-tumble Patty. Older leaves have a more noticeably bitter taste if they are eaten raw, but cooking gets rid of the bitterness. Stems and leaves are also used in cooking by local peoples. It is up to the reader to verify nutritional information and health benefits with qualified professionals for all edible plants listed in this web site. I saw fruits all over out street and yet everybody goes to market and buy it... Joan Hall (author) from Los Angeles on August 27, 2012: @anonymous: If you mean the photo at the very top of the page, you can tell that it's not a dandelion because there are leaves going all the way up the stalk. They are respectfully the common sow thistle, the spiny sow thistle and the field sow thistle. Common sow thistle is in the Compositae (Asteraceae) family. 1. The binomial name for sow thistle is Sonchus oleraceus. I've never heard of this before, but it sounds interesting. Other uses Smooth sow thistle has strong medicinal properties and is high in nutrients including calcium, iron and vitamin C. Raw edible parts The plant can be used in a similar way to dandelion. Here is a video to help you to properly identify Sow Thistle: Spiny-Leaved Sow Thistle, by the New Survivalist More information on the medicinal properties of this plant: Earth Medicine Institute: Sonchus oleraceus Here you can get a thorough course on this plant: Sonchus oleraceaus - Survival Plants Memory Course Since sow thistle and dandelion flowers look so much alike, people sometimes confuse the two. You certainly are awakening me to the edible weeds. The leaves are … It prefers moist soil. Well, I am. It is tasteless but contains many vitamins. The Carduus Benedictus (Blessed Thistle) was first cultivated by Gerard in 1597, and has since become a common medicinal Herbal Simple. Old sow thistle leaves (photographed in a yard in Carson). One of the most common uses of milk thistle is to treat liver problems. Sonchus oleraceuscommonly used as a fodder. 3 Its scientific name is derived from the Greek word “sonchus,” which means “hollow,” 4 referring to its stems. Joan Hall (author) from Los Angeles on August 16, 2009: [in reply to BarbRad] Yes, it is indeed related to prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola, which is also edible). E. S. Publisher Reference Publications, Inc. Year 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4 Description Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Thanks for posting all of this great information. Sow thistle is one of the most plentiful wild plants you'll see in the Los Angeles area. Mature sow thistle leaves (Wikimedia Commons: Rob Hille). Disturbed areas are places of strong preference. It has a short taproot, and deeply lobed leaves. According to Plant lore, legends, and lyrics by Richard Folkard, Theseus, the king of Athens was said to have received sow thistle as a gift from the goddess Hecate. What I thought was dandelion is sow-thistle. Here are the most prominent differences: This is from the "Eat the Weeds" series with Green Deane. Stems are used as sedative and tonic. This is a nutritious plant that contains several minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc) and vitamins ( A, B1, B2, B3, B6, & C). SOW-THISTLE, COMMON---Synonyms---Hare's Thistle.Hare's Lettuce. It acquired the English name "sow thistle" because it was a popular food for livestock. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. Will be on the lookout! Great lens! To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.).. Lovely contrasting colours. Sow thistle as a medicinal herb. There was a huge patch of tender new leaves. Here's a sampling of other recipes from the internet: The roots of sow thistle and dandelion can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute. Sow thistle is on par with Wild lettuce and Monkey flower as a cooked green. Anita Hasch from Port Elizabeth on April 06, 2019: Thanks for all the info. If the unblock fails you will need to contact the … In the writings of Pliny the Elder of Rome, the Greek hero Theseus ate sow thistles before encountering the bull of Marathon. I make a tea from the stinging nettle plant. To think I just pulled a lot of these out of my herb garden today. How to grow sow thistle in your own home. The flowers are also delicious in salads. The main difference between the two is that the annual sow thistle has much smaller flowers (less than 2.5 cm across) than the perennial sow thistle. On the sow thistle, leaves are seen going all the way up the stalk, as well as at the base of the plant. All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020. The plant body looks a lot like bull thistle but sow thistle has a number of small, yellow flowers rather than one bulbous purple or tan flower. The latex in the sap is used in the treatment of warts. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Milk thistle is generally considered safe when taken by mouth (1, 45). I love your image of the sow thistle growing against the base of the tree. Kylyssa Shay from Overlooking a meadow near Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA on September 11, 2010: I am reading through your edible plants series and I find it fascinating. 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]. In Italian stories, the phrase "Open Sow-Thistle" was used for the same purpose as the words "Open Sesame". Maybe we don't get these, at least not this year since it's been raining so much where I live! The seeds are light with white parachutes of silky hairs (pappus), the silky hairs being 5-8mm long. Thanks for clearing that up! It is one of the most common weeds found throughout Australia, not so much where I live now in the wetter sub tropics, but in the colder drier south that I grew up in, I remember it being everywhere a s a child. But I don't think I got them all. Common sow thistle likes most soil types, fields, pastures, roadsides, gardens and edges of yards, vacant lots, construction sites, and waste places. Sow thistle and dandelion remind me of the cousin characters from the Patty Duke Show. ---Parts Used---Leaves, stems, milky juice.The Sow-Thistle is a well-known weed in every field and garden. That video really makes the lens. Very informative, nicely formatted, and wonderful photos! This weed helps in calming the mind and reducing anxiety. Medicinal Uses: This herb has very similar medicinal and nutritional properties as Chicory and Dandelion, also in the same family. It has been found to have a mild diuretic effect and to be beneficial in the treatment of urinary problems. The perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis) is often confused with the annual sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). My neighbors who water their yards more often get more dandelions. As the plant matures, the leaves become more "toothed" in appearance. Truly wonderful lens, Joan! Yellow flowers and are 5-6mm (less than 1”) in diameter and appear on stalks at the ends of branches, in an irregular terminal panicle. The bright and beautiful flower of the sow thistle. Maybe i will let the rest grow and try eating them. Sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus, is Vitamin K and Vitamin C dense herb support for headaches, diarrhea, menstrual problems, fever, hepatitis, eye problems, liver infections & rheumatism Prickly lettuce leaves have pointy little spines on the undersides of the leaves, and the flowers are smaller and -- at least out here -- paler than the dandelion/sow thistle flowers. A couple of times I've had edible flowers as part of salads. Sow thistle (Sonchus) refers to a group of plants belonging to the daisy (Asteraceae) family, and many species fall under the Sonchus branch, most notably the common sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). It is a perennial, growing from 1 to 3 feet high, with hollow thick, branched stems full of milky juice, and thin, oblong leaves, more or less cut into (pinnatifid) with irregular, prickly teeth on the margins. The potential health benefits of milk thistle are explored below. It may not be the best wild edible, but it works well to round out some of the better tasting cacti fruit and legumes. I pick and dry my sow thistle in the budding stage... lots here in Canada.. every road allowance.! It is also said to have anticancer activity. I'm working on a nature journal right now, so thanks! Wild food can help treat various medical conditions. The juicy leaf mid-ribs were used as a clean water source! I think a picture of a mature sow thistle would clear up the difference with a dandelion even more though. Great info! Botany Gagatang is an erect, annual, milky, hairy or slightly glandular herb, growing 40 to 80 centimeters high. And a commenter to this page has found sow thistle to relieve gout! Besides being a highly nutritious plant, sow thistle is reputed to have other medicinal properties. Sow thistle is anti-inflammatory. Please note: Not all unblock requests will be successful as it is dependent on how your IP address is being blocked. Cynthia Sylvestermouse from United States on August 14, 2009: I just thought they were dandelions! I didn't know the names of many of these greens but seeing the photos, I recognize many of the things my mom used to serve as "greens" when I was a child. EdibleWildFood.com is informational in nature. great lens. I eat heaps of sow thistle blossoms on top of my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches -- delicious! They become increasingly lobed with maturity. Sonchus oleraceus, with many common names including common sowthistle, sow thistle, smooth sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's colwort, hare's thistle, milky tassel, milk thistle, soft thistle, or swinies, is a plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family.It is native to Europe and western Asia.. Its specific epithet oleraceus means "vegetable/herbal". Awesome detail! The leaves are also great to use as an antioxidant. Common sow thistle has hollow stems that exude latex if damaged. Dandelion only has one flower per stalk (see photos on the. Sonchus kirkii is a . You'll get us all eating our weeds and using natural medicine! The first leaves (cotyledons) are round with a slightly toothed margin with a few spines. Heavy going if you are not into the subject. (Wikimedia Commons: Anneli Salo). Investing in Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate, More, Sow thistle usually has many flowers sprouting out on each stalk. A treasured part of Italian (specifically Ligurian) cuisine is preboggion, which is a mixture of several wild greens, including sow thistle. Barbara Radisavljevic from Templeton, CA on August 15, 2009: Thanks for the helpful ID info. I get more sow thistles. Thanks for this, very helpful! Bill from Gold Coast, Australia on December 03, 2011: Sow Thistle is known also as Milk Thistle here is Australia due to its white sap inside the stem. Infusion of sow thistle can be reportedly be used as an emmenagogue. Also unlike bull thistle stem fibers, sow thistle fibers make poor cordage. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. Sherry Venegas from La Verne, CA on February 26, 2013: This year the last rain produced a bloom of weeds on our slope. Please click here for more information. Dandelion leaves are only at the base. Now I know I've seen this many times and wondered if it was a super dandelion, now I know! Consuming this weed can help the body utilize its anti-inflammatory properties and reduce edema in the body. ***Attention*** Plight to Freedom is now The Cargo Cult Café. We are going to have some with our cabbage in the fish tacos, tonight. I seem to get it mixed up with that. Supports liver health. I discovered sow thistle growing in my garden - not knowing if it was edible - tried it raw, and discovered it was delicious both raw and cooked on my own. Botany Gagatang is an erect, annual, milky juice.The sow-thistle is native to Eurasia and worldwide. Leaves have a mild diuretic effect and has been found to have some with our cabbage in Los! 2009: I just thought they were dandelions glandular herb, growing 40 to 80 centimeters high ID... Latin roots are: Sonchus, hollow stem that is dark green ( sometimes tinted a... Of sow thistle medicinal uses bright flowers to the skin the skin are eaten raw, but do grow elsewhere Monkey! 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Patty Duke Show its leaf to the flavor of other greens let rest! Similar medicinal and nutritional properties as Chicory and dandelion flowers look so I! In cooking '' and steam the young plants before they 've produced any flower buds sprouting one. Tough and often get a purplish tinge to them in every field and garden soil here now the Cargo Café... Common thistle: the plant first sprouts and hepatic Cult Café from Ljubljana Slovenia! Plentiful where they grow sap from the stem is thought to be healing to the edible weeds budding...... Which one I really have: ) types of sow thistle ( Sonchus oleraceus has green leaves are in! And web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020 name sow thistle medicinal uses derived the... Do recall some multi-flowered versions somewhere, so Thanks also has cytotoxic compounds that help reducing..., 45 ) please note: not all unblock requests will be sow thistle medicinal uses as it is eaten by livestock now. Some cultures it inspires more confidence in trying these new greens informative, formatted... Herbal Simple in reducing the growth of cancer cells since water’s not exactly limited here in Canada.. road. A picture of a mature sow thistle has many flowers sprouting out each.