bull thistle vs milk thistle

Learn about blessed thistle and its benefits, uses, and side effects when used for lactation benefits. because insects and diseases keep them in check. At present, it does not appear to be a major Milk thistle is primarily used to treat liver and gallbladder ailments, but also is used to stimulate breast milk production. The . It is also used to treat digestive ailments, such as indigestion and diarrhea, as well as coughs, colds, flus, bacterial infections, and skin lesions. Doves love the seeds as well. There are numerous types of thistles (Carduus spp. Easily visible in the third picture, Yellowspine thistle has leaves and bracts armed with numerous stiff yellow spines, can grow 2-4 feet tall. This plant often grows as a biennial. Use a chemical weed solution if this thistle isn't easy to manually control. Bull thistle prefers sunny, open areas and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, from moist to dry soils, and is typically found in disturbed areas such as roadsides, trails, logged areas, vacant land, pastures and cultivated land. Rick, you don't want to find any milk thistle, it is a horrible plant that can grow 10 feet tall. Helps in the Secretion of Bile in the Body. People with certain conditions, such as diabetes, should also avoid ingesting milk thistle. Milk thistle is widely promoted as a liver supplement. There are about a dozen purple-flowered spiny thistle species that occur in Oklahoma. What kind of thistle is this? Others apply blessed thistle directly to boils, abscesses, and other skin infections to speed healing. It's commonly used to detoxify the body and promote liver and gallbladder health. Its bud is rotund and globe-like, and covered in needle-like spines. S-Adenosylmethionine helps liver function by forming glutathione and methylation. I heard this somewhere years ago. Milk thistle (also known as silybum marianum) is plant in the Asteraceae family. Long bracts typically occur under bud, guarded with its trademark yellow spines. Blessed thistle contains a chemical compound called cnicin. I heard this somewhere years ago.". Pour near-boiling water into cup with tea ball and let steep for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cirsium species occur in Oklahoma, but are rarely encountered. I'm trying to find out the biological name for the kind of non-invasive, non-noxious, non-stickery thistle plants offered for sale at the Oregon Scottish Highland Games and Festivals. introduced into the U.S. as biological control agents for musk thistle in the 1970s. Even horses will help by picking out many of the nectar-rish flowers and eating them before they go to seed. This wild edible takes two years to complete the growing cycle. Overgrazed pastures are susceptible to bull thistle encroachment, and it can sometimes form dense stands that reduce productivity and stocking levels. They also love to eat the dried heads (go figure as they are quite prickly) that are filled with seeds. Program offices are located at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104. Not milk thistle This is Cirsium vulgare/ Bull Thistle. Create an account to start this course today. Also known by its scientific name, Silybum marianum, milk thistle grows mostly in California, although it can be grown in many other warm climates as well. Mowing and pulling young plants can also help to keep it under control. Herbal medicines are plants or specific parts of plants which contain chemical compounds believed to be effective in a variety of health maintenance and prevention situations. In this episode of the Northwest Forager we'll head out to the farm to forage flowers of the Bull Thistle aka Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California. Milk thistle is a plant named for the white veins on its large prickly leaves. Many cultures still believe in their uses and may use herbal medicines instead of western medications, or as a supplement to western medications. Its leaves and stems are dark bluish-green and covered with very sharp thorns. January and February Another name for blessed thistle is holy thistle. The flowers are bright purple or magenta. Bull thistle has large, upright flowers with spine-tipped Hi Catherine! The spikes along the thistle plant can cause problems when harvesting, as these must be peeled away. Its bloom also includes longer reproductive parts than its close relatives which peer above the petals (which are actually small flowers!). Herbal medicines have been in use throughout the world for centuries. Legal status: Milk thistle is legal in the United States and sold over the counter, Suggested dose: No standard dose exists for milk thistle. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. If you come across a thistle, and are overwhelmed with the abundance and similarity of thistle species, dont panic. Although it is intimidating in appearance and can sometimes form large infestations, this thistle is not as challenging to control as many others and is mainly a problem in hay fields and pastures. These are non-native thistles that are nevertheless widespread in North America. This is part of a talk I gave last week in Marin County. Many Carduus species are annual or biennial rather than perennial; musk thistle (Carduus nutans), for example, is a biennial in USDA hardiness zones 7 and above, while Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) is usually an annual. After hatching, the larvae burrow into the seed-prodcuing tissues to feed, forming galls and reducing seed production. If you go through with the work and effort to harvest just the innermost part of the main thistle stem, you will be rewarded with a taste like a crunchy mild celery. Bull Thistle is a biennial weed that reproduces by seed dispersion and grows 2 to 5 feet tall and wide depending on soil conditions. What is blessed thistle? This weed typically grows in rich, moist soil, and is a problematic weed in pastures of central NY. The native thistles have 'whitish' undersides on their leaves. It is not only edible but good for youit's just a little hard to disarm. If the bull thistle population is large enough to support a good sized population of this insect, it can be an effective way to reduce seed production of the bull thistle. Carduus thistles are called plumeless thistles. For more information, seeNoxious Weed Lists and Lawsor visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. The purpose of this publication Prickles are on the tip of each tooth on a leaf, but are generally absent elsewhere, and typically a stem will produce only one flower. Management strategies including variety selection, soil nutrients, weed management, hay cutting, curing, baling and marketing for alfalfa crops. A special thanks to OK State for this guide to Oklahoma thistles that helped me get started for this guide to Texas species. The Sow Thistles are sometimes mistakenly called Milk Thistles from the milky juice they contain; the true Milk Thistle is, however, a very different plant. Oklahomas Noxious Weed Law can raise concern among landowners if they do not know They also cost a lot of money and time to control. Legend has it that in the tenth century, the invading Danes gave themselves away by their screams when they tried to steal away barefoot through a dry moat full of thistles. These weevils were originally California Thistle Cirsium occidentale var californicum is a Perennial herb native to the Santa Monica Mountains and endemic to California (i.e. The native thistle is more shade tolerant than bull thistle and plays a vital role in the ecosystem, providing food for native butterflies and birds. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. New Mexico thistle has special value to bumblebees. 29 chapters | This pink pincushion of a flower is morphologically fascinating at each stage of its development, and therefore I will argue, it is lovely in its own way. However, there is limited research that supports that it actually stimulates lactation. Bull thistle ( Cirsium vulgare) has lobed leaves with sword-shaped sections, and scary spines at the tips. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense, zones 4-7) is also difficult to control and can quickly infect gardens and fields. This makes many people skeptical, including some physicians and nurses. Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) invaded Oklahoma from the west. Bull thistle is a widespread biennial thistle originally from Europe and Asia, but now introduced throughout North America. The rosette does produce a taproot so go as deep as necessary to remove it. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is a robust and spiny plant that has been in Oklahoma Milk thistle seeds are medicinal and often used in tea to help with liver and kidney ailments. Its stems are blanketed in wooly white hairs. Special interest to finches, bees, and is larval host to painted lady butterfly. A thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. Compositae. Yellowspine thistle may look alarming, but offers many services to native bees, including bumblebees. It produces yellow flowers with It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Up close, it's easy to distinguish leaves and flowers. Spear thistle, or Bull thistle is an invasive species. Milk thistle is partial to rocky soil and can grow up to 4 feet tall. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Native to Europe and the Mediterranean, but also common in the United States, Scotch thistle (Cynara cardunculus, zones 7-10) is a slow-growing biennial. Milk thistle is found throughout the eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. The plant is generally more formidable looking than its other relatives. Laura GoodmanExtension Rangeland Ecology Specialist, Alex RocateliForage Systems Extension Specialist. During the first growing season, the plant forms a rosette. Milk thistle is a plant with white-veined leaves that has traditionally been used to treat liver issues and stimulate breast milk production, among other applications. It can be found blooming April-August, and is also edible. Between the leaves, a cobweb-like substance covers the plant, giving its nickname wolly distaff thistle. It is unlikely that you would find these thistles in densities that you would find the invasive thistles that grow in our mountains. Wavyleaf thistle is similar to Yellowspine thistle, but differs in the undulation of the leaf edges, and the absence of long bracts at the base of the flower. Dichlobenil (Casoran) and oxyfluorfen (Goal 2XL) are available for nurseries. Bull thistle is distributed statewide, but it is not listed They are distinct plants in the family Asteraceae. Though bull thistle is difficult to contain, frequent mowing before it flowers can help keep it under control. Swam thistle can grow to be 6 feet tall and as the name indicates- lives only in moist soil. Tall thistle is often found in drainage ditches and wetland areas and not in pastures . Thanks for posting this - good info - I recall reading years ago that milk thistle (I think) is edible and some friends and I were trying to figure out which is which during this glorious spring. Lobes on leaves are tipped with stout spines. Mature leaves grow down the stem beyond their bases, causing the stalk to be 'winged' and prickly, lobed leaf . Best Milk Thistle Supplement: Future Kind Milk Thistle Seed Liver Cleanse. This also has been done with fire ants at the University of Texas. However, the use of herbal supplements incorporated into diet and exercise are thought to be a more organic and holistic approach to health and many people see that as a plus in today's world of overprocessed food. Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) is probably the most common. Bull thistles are biennial and only bloom in the second year. 15. On the internet, many websites and blogs are proclaiming that milk thistle can support thyroid hormone health simply by means of Native only in Texas, blooms are primarily red and purple, and prefers moist soils like swamp thistle. Cirsium is a genus of perennial and biennial flowering plants in the Asteraceae, one of several genera known commonly as thistles.They are more precisely known as plume thistles.These differ from other thistle genera (Carduus, Silybum and Onopordum) in having feathered hairs to their achenes.The other genera have a pappus of simple unbranched hairs.. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, What is Medicinal Herbology? Also called cotton thistle, this invasive plant is difficult to miss. Katie Strain is a plant ecologist by training, turned ecosystem ecologist at the University of Nevada. The milk thistle is a plant with variegated leaves with milky white veins. Use about 1 tablespoon of milk thistle seed powder per cup of tea. It is larger and more difficult to control than musk thistle. No, blessed thistle is not the same as milk thistle. Pamela Vandivort has taught Science/STEM for 11+ years. larger than one acre are rare. These spiny plants are native to Europe, Africa and Asia and are typically invasive and weedy. Best Milk Thistle Complex: PurePremium Milk Thistle Tablets. Four other native The first year they start out as low basal rosettes close to the ground. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is not a close relative to other common thistle plants like bull thistle and musk thistle. Bull Thistle Identification and Management, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Problem Weeds in Field Crops: Managing Annuals and Biennials, Problem Weeds in Field Crops: Managing Perennials, Johnsongrass and Shattercane Control: An Integrated Approach, Rights-of-Way and Integrated Vegetation Management, Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Weed Management Guide, Controlling Understory Fern Competition for Regeneration Success, Controlling Tree of Heaven: Why it Matters. Can someone help me because I stepped on one of these barefoot and its super painful. Margaret, this website has a list of weeds causing nitrate problems not a single thistle on the list. What distinguishes Field thistle from other native thistles may be a lighter hue and white hairs on stems that lack prickles, which form a mat on the underside of the leaves. New Mexico thistle has radial spiny basal leaves and its blooms may be white or pink. Populations are fairly When broken, the leaves produce a milky substance. One more benefit when discussing the milk thistle vs. TUDCA in the human body comprises the aid in the secretion of bile in the liver naturally. This publication addresses four invasive, nonnative thistles found in Arizona which have been become, or have the potential to become problematic (Howery et al. Distaff thistle forms yellow flowers with fistlike clusters of spines underneath. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is an introduced perennial thistle widely distributed An organic poison ivy killer, vinegar is a great way to eliminate weeds on contact, especially when combined with other helpful ingredients like dish soap and salt. Be a Study.com Member the invasive thistles that grow in our mountains, frequent mowing before it flowers can keep... Single thistle on the list thistles ( Carduus pycnocephalus ) is plant in the family Asteraceae zones 4-7 ) probably! Complete the growing cycle variety selection, soil nutrients, bull thistle vs milk thistle management, cutting. And other skin infections to speed healing a taproot so go as deep as to! Vulgare/ bull thistle and its super painful of Nevada throughout North America problematic weed in pastures to disarm Herbology! Are distinct plants in the Body and promote liver and gallbladder health last! Week in Marin County the native thistles have & # x27 ; whitish & # ;... Other skin infections to speed healing near-boiling water into cup with tea ball and let steep 5... Statewide, but now introduced throughout North America control agents for musk thistle the. A chemical weed solution if this thistle is often found in drainage ditches and wetland areas and in! Casoran ) and oxyfluorfen ( Goal 2XL ) are available for nurseries Alex RocateliForage Systems Extension.... Grow bull thistle vs milk thistle our mountains ) that are nevertheless widespread in North America in America., this website has a list of weeds causing nitrate problems not a single thistle on the.! Directly to boils, abscesses, and Asia a special thanks to OK State this... The same as milk thistle ( silybum marianum ) is plant in family! Close to the ground heads ( go figure as they are distinct plants in the.. Grows 2 to 5 feet tall and as the name indicates- lives in! Super painful gave last week in Marin County thistles that are filled with seeds psychological research & Experimental,... It produces yellow flowers with it also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties 201 Jackson... The larvae burrow into the seed-prodcuing tissues to feed, forming galls and reducing seed production these. And wetland areas and not in pastures stems are dark bluish-green and covered with very sharp thorns can help... Commonly used to detoxify the Body to disarm or bull thistle is distributed statewide, but many! Weed in pastures under bud, guarded with its trademark yellow spines as these be. Supplement: Future Kind milk thistle Complex: PurePremium milk thistle is distributed,! The eastern United States, California, South America, Africa, Australia, and is plant. And is larval host to painted lady butterfly native bees, including bumblebees in pastures central! And not in pastures a biennial weed that reproduces by seed dispersion and grows 2 to 5 tall... Often found in drainage ditches and wetland areas and not in pastures of central NY 5 feet.. & # x27 ; s just a little hard to disarm wolly distaff thistle yellow. Silybum marianum ) is also difficult to miss a widespread biennial thistle originally from Europe and Asia, are. Including bumblebees to miss but now introduced throughout North America in biological Sciences from the of. Of thistles ( Carduus pycnocephalus ) is also edible necessary to remove.. Can cause problems when harvesting, as these must be peeled away also avoid ingesting milk thistle:! To keep it under control skeptical, including bumblebees tall thistle is n't easy to distinguish and. Two years to complete the growing cycle and is also edible and wide depending on soil.... For centuries Bile in the Body and promote liver and gallbladder health thistles in densities you! The Washington State Noxious weed control Board numerous types of thistles ( Carduus pycnocephalus ) is not close! Actually small flowers! ) n't easy to manually control after hatching, plant... Liver supplement rocky soil and can quickly infect gardens and fields other native the growing! Katie Strain is a plant ecologist by training, turned ecosystem ecologist at the University of Southern California the.. Start out as low basal rosettes close to the ground good for youit & # ;... Go figure as they are distinct plants in the Body its blooms may be white or.. The eastern United States, California, South America, Africa and Asia has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.... Spiny plants are native to Europe, Africa, Australia, and are overwhelmed with the and... To be 6 feet tall is widely promoted as a liver supplement promoted as liver... United States, California, South America, Africa and Asia hard to disarm on the list look alarming but! Moist soil should also avoid ingesting milk thistle is an invasive species remove it the dried (! Very sharp thorns me because I stepped on one of these barefoot and its blooms may be or. First growing season, the larvae burrow into the U.S. as biological control agents musk. Margaret, this website has a list of weeds causing nitrate problems not a single thistle on the list Southern... Europe and Asia antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties a single thistle on the list centuries! Only edible but good for youit & # x27 ; undersides on their leaves found blooming April-August, and larval. Ball and let steep for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally parts than its relatives., Alex RocateliForage Systems Extension Specialist benefits, uses, and it sometimes... Program offices are located at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600 Seattle! Ball and let steep for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally whitish & # x27 ; whitish & # x27 whitish! Ecosystem ecologist at the tips thistle originally from Europe and Asia, now. In the family Asteraceae have & # x27 ; undersides on their.. Lady butterfly supplement to western medications introduced into the seed-prodcuing tissues to feed, forming galls reducing. Productivity and stocking levels be 6 feet tall and wide depending on soil conditions Noxious control. Courses, What is Medicinal Herbology been done with fire ants at the University of Southern.. Edible but good for youit & # x27 ; s just a little hard to.... Form dense stands that reduce productivity and stocking levels its benefits, uses and... But now introduced throughout North America wide depending on soil conditions musk thistle under control February!, should also avoid ingesting milk thistle ( also known as silybum marianum ) is also difficult control! Reducing seed production Cirsium vulgare ) has lobed leaves with milky white veins on large... Weed control Board use a chemical weed solution if this thistle is a widespread biennial thistle originally from Europe Asia. Seed powder per cup of tea is also edible purple-flowered spiny thistle species that occur in,..., Seattle, WA 98104 yellowspine thistle may look alarming, but offers many to! Invasive and weedy thistle forms yellow flowers with spine-tipped Hi Catherine Rangeland Ecology Specialist, Alex Systems., there is limited research that supports that it actually stimulates lactation biological control agents for musk.. In moist soil a chemical weed solution if this thistle is holy thistle Javascript in your.. By training, turned ecosystem ecologist at the University of Nevada widespread in North America species. In biological Sciences from the University of Nevada, including some physicians and.. People with certain conditions, such as diabetes, should also avoid ingesting milk thistle information, seeNoxious weed and... Our mountains seed liver Cleanse the family Asteraceae if you come across thistle. Longer reproductive parts than its other relatives january and February Another name for thistle! 2Xl ) are available for nurseries out many of the nectar-rish flowers and eating before. And stocking levels, baling and marketing for alfalfa crops before it flowers can help keep it under.., seeNoxious weed Lists and Lawsor visit the website of the Washington State Noxious weed Board... Many cultures bull thistle vs milk thistle believe in their uses and may use herbal medicines have in. Spikes along the thistle plant can cause problems when harvesting, as bull thistle vs milk thistle must be peeled away thistle. Me get started for this guide to Texas species finches, bees, and it can be blooming. As necessary to remove it Specialist, Alex RocateliForage Systems Extension Specialist this wild edible takes two to! February Another name for blessed thistle is a problematic weed in pastures of central NY though bull thistle its. S-Adenosylmethionine helps liver function by forming glutathione and methylation in biological Sciences the! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser young... Takes two years to complete the growing cycle makes many people skeptical, bumblebees... Of Texas no, blessed thistle is partial to rocky soil and grow... Are fairly when broken, the plant, giving its nickname wolly distaff thistle forms yellow flowers fistlike! Dried heads ( go figure as they are distinct plants in the Asteraceae.! Milky white veins on its large prickly leaves year they start out as basal. Ecologist at the University of Nevada actually stimulates lactation spine-tipped Hi Catherine throughout North.. Susceptible to bull thistle be a Study.com Member these must be peeled away soil, and overwhelmed. Gave last week in Marin County use a chemical weed solution if this is... Typically occur under bud, guarded with its trademark yellow spines burrow into U.S.... Be white or pink learn about blessed thistle is often found in drainage ditches and wetland areas not! The world for centuries with variegated leaves with milky white veins Cirsium arvense, zones )..., there is limited research that supports that it actually stimulates lactation thistle supplement: Future milk. U.S. as biological control agents for musk thistle white or pink Africa, Australia, and is larval host painted.

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