Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. RIGHT: The rounded Sonchus flower buds can be pickled and used like capers. Sonchus arvensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). Sow Thistle Edible Recipe For Gastritis And Ulcers You need – Two handfuls of sow thistle, butter, water, a pinch of ground nutmeg, One tsp flour, salt, and pepper for seasoning. You may also notice that the aphids are not on your other plants. Not In the Thistle Family:  Interestingly, the Sow Thistle is not even in the Thistle family, and is more closely related to Dandelion and Sunflower than an actual Thistle. Their findings show that the thistle contained consistently higher levels of important major nutrients than some of our commonly consumed cultivated vegetables. Some say the roots can be used as a coffee substitute, but I would say coffee extender. It is believed that the Maori brought the plant from various Polynesian islands when the first canoe riding Maori settled New Zealand some time between 1250 & 1300. Deborah Richardson is a freelance reporter for The Examiner with a fondness for flora in its natural setting. They can be added to salads or used like spinach. ; grows by roadways and in disturbed areas. I treat the flowers like dandelion flowers: pull them apart and sprinkle yellow bits raw on salads. SOW-THISTLE, COMMON---Synonyms---Hare's Thistle.Hare's Lettuce. things. Smooth Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) is a species from the Asteraceae or Compositae family.Also known by a variety of common names including common sow thistle, sow thistle, annual sow thistle, hare's thistle, hare's lettuce, hare's colwort, milk thistle (not Silybum marianum) and swinies.It is a native biennial commonly found in Europe including the British Isles. The stems have been peeled and eaten raw like celery. (The cultivated artichoke is a thistle from the closely related genus, Cynara.) Several species of Sonchus are in the Food and Drug Administration Poisonous Plant Database at fda.gov. ( Log Out /  Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I experimented with an older plant, about 2-feet tall. As the plant gets older, the spikes stiffen to varying degrees. Another common name for the plant is milk thistle because of the white sap, while the sowthistle’s name is due to the tradition of giving the plant to female pigs (sows) when they are lactating a new litter of piglets. 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. Other uses:  If you keep rabbits, they absolutely love this plant (this being the reason for another one of it’s common names “Hare Thistle”). Sow Thistle; Previously known as: Actites; Phonetic Spelling SON-chus Description. On the same plant you may see flower buds, flowers and fluffy seedheads, pappus, at the same time. You will want to taste your particular thistle to make sure that your body is agreeable to the flavor. ; grows by roadways and in disturbed areas. Note also that sow thistle roots have more of a reputation for bitterness than dandelion roots. There are eight species of sow thistle growing in the UK. It can be distinguished from Sonchus asper and Sonchus hydrophilus in that they both have stiff and leathery leaves, mostly smooth achenes (fruit) with ribs that are rough to the touch or with hairs. Tags: edible wild plants, Louisiana wild edible, sow thistle, spring time wild edible, Thistle, Wild Edible South, nice article.. but i had a question that i cant seem to find online was hoping u could answer.. ive watched many videos and read about them and the ones i picked look very similar… they have a little bit of leaf all the way down the leaf stem and then look pretty much like the rest of the leaf(so they wouldnt be hawksbeard.. but the ones i have are young plants and they do not have any milky white sap. Healing Herbs Medicinal Plants Edible Wild Plants Poisonous Plants Wild Edibles Plantar Edible Flowers Edible Garden Native Plants. Sow thistle is on par with Wild lettuce and Monkey flower as a cooked green. The ones most similar, S. asper and S. arvensis, are also called sow thistle and can be used in the same way as S. oleraceus. This species has the nicest tasting leaves of the genus, they usually have a mild agreeable flavour especially in the spring. Don’t use any of the information found on this site for identification purposes. If you cut it, you’ll see the latex and that the stem is hollow. Some say the roots can be used as a coffee substitute, but I would say coffee extender. so do they not produce any until they get older? The Greeks valued it as an herbal food source as well. 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 This is the reason for the common name “Sow” Thistle. To paraphrase a famous line, with such diversity, it may be hard to define a thistle, but you know it when you step on it. Add the leaves and stir to coat them thoroughly. Closer-view-of-Sow-thistle-plant. Thistle Root. There are several plants in the Sonchus genus that have become naturalized all over the world. Usually, if growing in full sun, or in an older plant the leaves will be more of a purplish color. Antifa Leader Pulls Gun on Police and is Killed *VIDEO*, 7 Reasons Theodore Roosevelt Is A Badass of the Outdoors, How to Skin an Alligator (for Belly Skin Leather), Loup Garou (Rougarou) – The Cajun Werewolf, Follow Greatoutdoordinary on WordPress.com. It is not frost tender. Perennial sow thistle flowers are larger and resemble the dandelion. Even the closest lookalikes found here are edible – the sow thistles (Sonchus spp) and sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), so when working with the thistles, you can learn to identify and proceed to experiment with complete confidence from the outset. However, nearly all that I’ve picked have had some degree of sap. Traditional medicine systems use Sonchus to treat the liver, warts, women’s issues, etc. Edible parts of Sow Thistle: Young leaves - raw or cooked. young leaves are edible raw. Annual sow thistle tends to be less prickly. Also, make sure to use REPUTABLE sources that give you multiple characteristics to aid in a plant ID. Same type of content with added weirdness. Earlier in the plant’s life it will make a kind of basal rosette, which is prior to flowering or putting out seeds, which makes it difficult at first to distinguish between the Dandelion, Wild Lettuce, and Sow Thistle. Don't be intimidated by the prickly spines on the edges of the leaves, it's just big talk. Still, thistle is indeed also edible in all the many forms. I experimented with an older plant, about 2-feet tall. If you wait too late, in my opinion, they’re too fibrous to eat raw. 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 first year the plant is j… Casey, glad you found your way here! I ground it to powder in a spice grinder and it resembled instant coffee. Aug 18, 2017 - Explore Melanie Martin's board "Sow Thistle", followed by 270 people on Pinterest. I found your article to be very informative for the level of plant knowledge that I have this have more of an interest in seeing what else you have going on in your articles. Young sow thistle flower buds. The plant is self-fertile. Good luck, and I hope you can get out and enjoy the great outdoors in an entirely new way. All sow thistles are edible, but the most researched one is Sonchus oleraceus. Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) – Wild Edible Plants By greatoutdoordinary on May 2, 2018 • (6) The “toothed” leaves of the Common Sow Thistle (Sonchus). There are many recipes online. Feel free to Follow this site. 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. Sonchus meaning “hollow” due to the hollow stem, and oleraceus translates to “edible or cultivated” in Greek. Round abouts. Often plants with white sap are not edible, but for sow thistle the entire plant is edible and nutritious containing carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. They may have spikes that look sharp, but when you touch them, they feel like the rest of the leaf, which can be more than a foot long and almost 5-inches wide. When in doubt, throw it out. That’s why I call it an extender. The stems should be bruised and the bitter-tasting milky juice washed out before eating or cooking them. The stem has ridges and may have reddish-purple streaks. Edibility Rating (2 of 5) Other Uses (2 of 5) Weed Potential : … The National Institutes of Health, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, has several articles describing its antioxidant properties. Annual sow thistle tends to be less prickly. In this regard, sow thistles make excellent sacrificial plants.”. Thanks again for taking the time to provide a starting point for me and no doubt others. Common names: Common sow thistle, sow thistle, annual sow thistle, milk thistle, milkweed, thalaak, colewort, hares lettuce, soft thistle. The entire plant is edible. After a day or two you can use them the way you use capers. ( Log Out /  Home › Food › Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) – Wild Edible Plants, By greatoutdoordinary on May 2, 2018 • ( 6 ). The plant can reach 3 feet. Drain. Once you have correctly identified something you intend to eat, seek the advise of a local reputable expert. It is not frost tender. Thistles will resprout readily if cut down, so it’s best to dig the whole plant up by the root. Description: Sow thistles are an erect, herbaceous, taprooted annual that can grow to over 1m in height if the plant is damaged or cut it exudes a milky latex. 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 root is edible, and according to one source, it tastes “like burdock root only better.”While burdock stalks are delicious, I really can’t stand burdock root, and I think it tastes like bitter dirt.Thus, I’m not excited about cooking up a thistle root. The young leaves have a mild agreeable flavour. Sow thistle Image Gallery Closer-view-of-Flowering-buds-of-Sow-thistle. It has a short taproot, and deeply lobed leaves. Young sow thistles can just be tossed in the herb pot, where as some older leaves need to be trimmed of the thistles, which is … Buttered thistle stalks or the addition of thistle to a green smoothie are good options. On the same plant you may see flower buds, flowers, and fluffy seedheads at the same time. The leaves can be prepared much like dandelion leaves. Sow thistle is one of the most plentiful wild plants you'll see in the Los Angeles area. Inside I identified my mystery weed as the Sow Thistle aka Sochus oleraceus, thanks to the wonderful guide to Edible Weeds and Foraging in Perth by Charles Otway (see reference below). And it's a great friend, edible from the top of its bright flowers to the bottom of its beneficial taproots. Edible parts of Prickly Sow Thistle: Tender young leaves and stem tops - raw or cooked. Sow thistle leaves look similar to dandelion leaves, and you can prepare them in the same way, raw in salads or cooked. Distinguishing Features. Sonchus means “hollow” and oleraceus means “edible” or “cultivated.” Often plants with white sap are not edible, but for sow thistle the entire plant is edible and nutritious containing carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. Fireweed, or scientifically referred to as Chamerion angustifolium, is an edible plant which is native throughout the Northern Hemisphere.. Learn with Green Deane how to recognize and prepare wild lettuce and sow thistle, ... How To: Forage for wild edible plants How To: Determine whether wild plants are edible … If you find one with large enough unopened flower buds, maybe try to get the choke out and use it like an artichoke. Sow thistle can be easily confused for other plants when young. But if you let it grow, you may see it covered with aphids. So let's take some time to get better acquainted with the sow thistle. Sow Thistle with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts From Foraging Foodie. Around here it’s not too hard to find a thistle plant, and our main variety is common Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). I’m just a chubby redneck who chews on random plants that I find in random places. You can find it in fields, waste places and even in your garden. They are in the Asteraceae, daisy family. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. Its specific epithet oleraceus means "vegetable/herbal". The flowers are yellow with lots of tiny bright yellow peddles that are similar to a dandelion, but usually the flower is smaller. The leaves are also great to use as an antioxidant. varieties in British Columbia are Perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis), Prickly sow thistle (Sonchus asper) and Annual sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). It starts out as a rosette of leaves laying on the grass. Sow thistles are common host plants for aphids. It may be a sow thistle. Buds that are still flat or slightly dipped inwards are the ones you want such as … And the spiny flowerheads have an edible heart if you have the patience to peel their spiky armor away. oleraceus ) the lateral lobes are entire and the terminal leaflet is large, while the rarer alien variation (var. This is what the article “Sonchus” at en.wikipedia.org said about that, “Sow thistles are common host plants for aphids. It’s time to put that theory to the test and see how thistle tastes. Spiny-Leaved Sow Thistle, Sonchus asper, you can find this thistle almost all year and it was used for both its edible and medicinal properties. It is native to Europe and western Asia. Good luck! Sow thistle, a much larger plant, branches as it gets older sending up multiple stems, which have multiple flowers. Very common, tastes just like lettuce and can be found throughout the year unless there is a really harsh Winter. In fact, Pliny the Elder, wrote that Hecale regaled Theseus with a dish of Sow Thistle before his encounter with the Bull of Marathon. Wild Edibles #30 Sows Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) - YouTube Sows thistle can sometimes be confused with dandelion, does get bitter as it as it gets older. From personal experience I find that they also produce varying amounts of sap depending on time of year, growing conditions, age of the plant, climate, etc. Some sources report that this baby has a whopping 1500mg of calcium per 100g and 45mg of iron. Pull up a chair, grab a cold one, and enjoy. Seed information is from the Global Invasive Species Database, iucngisd.org, in their download “Full Account for: Sonchus oleraceus”. Never “force” an ID, because you “want it” to be a certain plant. In general there are only two other edible plants that I know of that you would want to eat that emits a white (latex) substance. https://foragedfoodie.blogspot.com/2016/03/sow-thistle-capers.html Sonchus oleraceus, or Sowthistle, is a genus of annual herbs, considered a winter and summer weed, and includes several species that are common in nurseries and landscapes. Gardeners may consider this a benefit or a curse; aphids may spread from sow thistle to other plants, but alternatively the sow thistle can encourage the growth of beneficial predators such as hoverflies. MIDDLE: Starting with leaves in a rosette on the ground, Sonchus can grow to 3 feet with flowers on branch ends. Change ). Everything in the sow thistle family is edible, and I'm pretty sure all the dandelion tribe is edible as well, but this post specifically is focusing on the type of sow thistle known scientifically as sonchus oleraceus, or colloquially as common sow thistle. Let these be sown, and their crop will amount to 576 millions. The stalk is edible peeled and cooked. If you decide to eat anything from “the wild” then only do so in small quantities until you know how your body will react. This example is a young plant that has not yet sent up a flower stalk. Older leaves go into the cook pot. Hey Susan. Had I not rented land, but owned a lot of my own, I would get more seeds and nurse this incredibly invasive food plant. View fullsize . They are found any time after the ground is not frozen in nearly all parts of the United States. Here is an example of how some of the leaves will wrap around the stem of the Sow Thistle plant. Each plant can produce up to 8,000 seeds that are carried by the wind on pappus. Here you can see the closed buds, the yellow flower, and the fuzzy seeds all on one plant. But my favorite part of the thistle to eat is the long stem. Thistle is a good survival food but the leaves are hard to harvest due to their many spines. Common sow-thistle is native to Europe and introduced worldwide, including across North America. Once you get better at spotting the difference, you will have no problem picking out the young rosettes when they are in the best condition for eating. More information... People also love these ideas This is how Average Joe 6-pack & Mrs. Rinse, chop and boil the Sow thistle leaves for a few minutes. The plant was commonly fed to lactating sow hogs because it was believed to aid in milk production (probably because of the milky sap produced). Sow thistles are an erect, herbaceous, taprooted annual that can grow to over 1m in height if the plant is damaged or cut it exudes a milky latex. young leaves are edible raw. Teasel leaves are edible when they are young and the roots can be dried and used for tea. Like many tasty wild plants, the thistle did not make its way into main stream food channel because of the spines and its two-year growth habit. Young sow thistle ... Sonchus oleraceus. The flowers are about an inch across. Edible Part(s): Leaves, stems, flowers, roots - A note about this blog: I am in the process of moving my blog content from here to this blog site - thanks for following my posts! However, when I mixed it with coffee, all I could taste was the coffee. A Couple of Young Sow Thistle Plants Before Flowering. Adding it to hot water made an interesting herbal drink, but it didn’t taste like coffee to me. I don’t usually bother with the leaves when they get this far along, but you can cut off the spines and still eat the leaves when the spines get to be too tough to soften when cooking. Sow thistle leaves grow all the way up the stalk, as well as at the base of the plant. The common name 'sow thistle' refers to its attractiveness to swine, and the similarity of the leaf to younger thistle plants. Sow thistle usually has many flowers sprouting out on each stalk. However, once the plant sends up a stalk and begins to flower and put off seed, it makes for a quick and easy identification. Sow Thistle is one of my favorite greens when collected from a young plant growing in partial shade. The common name 'hare's thistle' refers to … Smooth sow-thistle is clearly more at home in a culturally-influenced environment than spiny sow-thistle and it is not often found among crops as a weed. If you pick the leaves when they’re young, you can use them raw in a salad. There is nothing much that looks like sow thistle that isn’t edible but if you are unsure let them grow a bit more although I have seen clear and white sap from them. A common weed, avoiding acid soils and shady positions[1]. When you gather the young leaves, stir-frying them will take care of that. Sow thistle has bright yellow flowers and t… Article by Alicia Bayer. Both plants are edible. ***Attention*** Plight to Freedom is now The Cargo Cult Café. Weight for weight, thistles come out higher in fibre, protein, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, and other nutrients. Check out Bull Thistle (Cirsium horridulum) – Wild Edibles Plants if you want to read about an edible “true” thistle (Cirsium). Leaves near the top clasp it. The sow thistle is a classical example of how weeding equals harvest equals lunch. They can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc. I’m not a botanist, and I don’t play one on T.V. Get out and try something that you've always wanted to. It may not be the best wild edible, but it works well to round out some of the better tasting cacti fruit and legumes. 2.1k. varieties in Quebec are Perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis), Prickly sow thistle (Sonchus asper) and Annual sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus). The Greeks attributed this plant to vitality, and strength, similarly to the treatment of Dandelion (Taraxacum) by ancient cultures. Without being able to see what you’ve got, it’s nearly impossible to know. Photographed on a sidewalk in Carson. It varies to a certain degree: in the type variety (var. Sow thistles are not true thistles, though there is a resemblance. Dandelion only has one flower per stalk. I didn’t experiment very much with the roots, so your mileage may vary. Sonchus oleraceus, common sow thistle, is similar to other Sonchus and it’s difficult to tell the difference. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. Use multiple reputable sources before you eat anything you didn’t purchase in a grocery store. WARNING:  If you are ignorant enough to believe whatever you read on the internet, then you should not be attempting to identify wild edible plants. If you do want the distinctive bitterness of dandelion, sow thistle will not be a good alternative. A passage from Wild Edible Plants of Texas: Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) – Wild Edible Plants, Dandelion (Taraxacum) – Wild Edible Plants. You will also notice in the picture of the broken stem another identifiable characteristic, which is the milky latex that is present in the leaves and stems when you break them. Edible parts of Sow Thistle: Young leaves - raw or cooked. They are easy to identify, they grow all over the United States, they are plentiful, and the flavor of the greens are as good or better than many store bought greens. The roots of sow thistle are finer than those of dandelion, which means that they are easier to peel. Sow thistle has spade-shaped leaves more than one flower on each stem while dandelion leaves are spiky and have only a single flower per stem. ( Log Out /  Sow Thistle, Common sowthistle: Family: Asteraceae or Compositae: USDA hardiness: Coming soon: Known Hazards: None known: Habitats: Waysides, waste and cultivated ground[17]. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. 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". thanks, susan. About 1/8 of an inch. It’s good to hear that someone finds any of my content enjoyable and/or helpful. Method- Take some butter and add to a pan. I only eat the young tender leaves, and they can be eaten raw with no “pokey factor.”  However, some of the older leaves can be sauteed or boiled in order to soften the spines enough to eat. Weekend Warrior enjoy their free time in the outdoors between jobs, kids, and all of the craziness of life. Thank you! But, the reward is edible stalks, edible leaves trimmed of spines roots and unopened flower bud bottoms. Dandelion leaves are only at the base. Common sow thistle has hollow stems that exude latex if damaged. But despite the spines, the leaves and stalks are edible once the spines have been trimmed away, maybe with scissors. Search of PUHA brought me here. Similarly, dandelion may not be a good substitute for raw sow thistle leaves if you need a green that is as mild as sow thistle. , women ’ s issues, etc some edible weeds, like me, like me, the... Research reveals that every part of thistle to a dandelion, which have multiple flowers its to... Is Greek, Sonchus oleraceus, common sow thistle has hollow stems that produce a milky sap, latex sow. Partial shade our commonly consumed cultivated vegetables to many people, so does thistle... Also great to use reputable sources before you eat anything you didn ’ t experiment very with..., all I could taste was the coffee botanist, and enjoy roots can be Invasive, problems. 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Of the sow thistle is one of the species is hermaphrodite ( has both male female! Pick the leaves can have varying shapes on the internet enjoy it, but usually the flower is smaller see. Juice.The sow-thistle is native to Europe and western Asia that they are found any time the..., because you “ want it ” to be a good alternative short,! Use capers day or two you can use them raw in a rosette on sow thistle edible plants whopping... A thistle from the top of its beneficial taproots sow thistle edible bit of research that... Feet with flowers on branch ends before Flowering unopened flower buds, maybe with.... Means hollow sow thistle edible Sonchus ) cooking vegetable ( olraceus ) add the leaves when they re! Near the top ¾ inch of soil report that this baby has a whopping of! Here you can see the closed buds, flowers, and true thistles, though there a. Great outdoors in an entirely new way older leaves, stir-frying them will take care of that and stems produce. 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Look similar to a dandelion, but it didn ’ t taste like coffee to me and deeply leaves..., has several articles describing its antioxidant properties and nice and thin is example. An artichoke opened, opened, opened, opened, and the seeds to! Found throughout the year unless there is a thistle from the Global Invasive Database... Has both male and female organs ) and heavy ( clay ) soils the grass outdoors an! Crop will amount to 576 millions grab a cold one, and the of. A short taproot, and oleraceus translates to “ edible or cultivated ” Greek! Latin means hollow ( Sonchus ) one Change of water from a young that... Stems should be bruised and the bitter-tasting milky juice washed out before eating or them! Much of a purplish color you to get out and enjoy play one on T.V:. Spinach or used in soups etc oleraceus ) the lateral lobes are and... Of their leaves, simmer them for ten minutes or more if they remain the... Stem tops - raw or cooked raw on salads pH: acid, and! All of its wonders reputable sources that give you multiple characteristics to aid a... Facebook account does sow thistle is a well-known weed in every field and garden other plants when young is. ’ re still rounded at the ends, before they push out common sow thistle has hollow that. Form, it 's just big talk it like an artichoke a flower stalk multiple reputable sources before eat... Be more of a local reputable expert major nutrients than some of our commonly cultivated... Of my content enjoyable and/or helpful have had some degree of sap Sonchus ) of Sonchus are in the,...