Family: Asteraceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 827 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Onopordum
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe to Xinjiang and W. Himalaya, NW. Africa
Description
Cotton thistle, scientifically known as Onopordum acanthium, is a striking plant renowned for its impressive size and spiny appearance. This biennial herb is a noteworthy member of the Asteraceae family, which includes many other thistles. Predominantly found across a vast geographical range from Europe to Xinjiang and the Western Himalaya, as well as in North-Western Africa, cotton thistle showcases a marvelous adaptability to various environments.
Primarily, cotton thistle is recognized for its tall, erect growth that can reach heights of up to three meters. The plant’s stems are sturdy and covered in dense, cotton-like white hairs, attributing to its common name. The leaves are large, spiny, and deeply lobed with a striking silvery-green hue and a woolly texture, creating a robust defense mechanism against herbivores.
During its flowering season, cotton thistle produces stunningly beautiful purple flower heads, each surrounded by a series of sharp, protective bracts. These flower heads are not only vibrant and visually appealing but also play a crucial role in attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The plant’s blooms can be a vital source of nectar, promoting local biodiversity.
Despite its beauty, Onopordum acanthium can be seen as a weed in some regions due to its hardy nature and prolific seeding. It tends to spread rapidly, creating dense thickets that can outcompete native vegetation. This characteristic necessitates careful management in certain areas to prevent it from becoming invasive.
In traditional uses, various parts of the cotton thistle plant have been employed for their medicinal properties. Historically, it has found use in herbal remedies aimed at treating ailments such as liver disorders and to stimulate digestion. However, the plant’s potency and safety for these uses should be considered with caution and proper guidance.
Cotton thistle also holds cultural significance in some regions where it symbolizes resilience and endurance, aligning with its physical characteristics. Its commanding presence and distinctive appearance make it a plant of great interest both horticulturally and ecologically.
In summary, Onopordum acanthium, or cotton thistle, is a remarkable example of nature’s intricate beauty combined with practical resilience. Whether appreciated for its aesthetic appeal or managed for its vigorous growth, it remains a fascinating subject within the diverse Asteraceae family.
Common Names
Por: acanto-bastardo, cardo-algodão, cardo-bastardo, cardo-escocês, cardo-selvagem
Dan: ager-hejre, almindelig æselfoder, stakløs hejre, æselfoder
Nor: bladfaks, åkerfaks
Spa: cardo-espinhoso-nobre
Eng: cotton thistle, cotton-thistle, giant thistle, heraldic thistle, scotch cotton thistle, scotch cottonthistle, scotch thistle, scotch-thistle, scottish thistle, woolly thistle, scotch cotton-thistle
Lit: dygliuotoji kardažolė
Deu: eselsdistel, gewöhnliche eselsdistel
Swe: foderlosta, renlosta, okakruunuohdake, ulltistel, tistelborre
Fin: idänkattara, pyörtänökattara, okakruunuohdake
Fra: onoporde acanthe
Isl: sandfax
Lav: akantu baltdadzis, asais baltdadzis
Nob: eseltistel
Nno: eseltistel
Ces: ostropes trubil
Est: terav kroonohakas
Nld: wegdistel
Cym: ysgall cotwm, ysgallen gotwm, ysgallen gotymog
En: Cotton thistle, Scotch thistle, Scottish thistle, Giant thistle, Heraldic thistle, Woolly thistle, Scotch cottonthistle, Scotsh thistle, Cotton-thistle, Scotch cotton thistle, Scotch-thistle, Scotch cotton-thistle
Ar: أقسون
Hy: Կաղշնակ
Az: Tikanlı qanqal
Be: Татарнік калючы
Bg: Обикновен гингер
Ca: Cardot gros
Zh: 大翅蓟
Hr: Magareći trn
Cs: Ostropes trubil
Da: Æselfoder, Ager-Hejre, Almindelig æselfoder, Stakløs Hejre
Nl: Wegdistel
Eo: Ordinara onopordo
Et: Terav kroonohakas
Fi: Kruunuohdake, Okakruunuohdake, Idänkattara, Pyörtänökattara
Fr: Onoporde acanthe, Chardon aux ânes, Onopordon à feuilles d’acanthe, Onopordon fausse acanthe, Chardon d’Écosse, Onoporde à feuilles d’acanthe, Onopordon acanthe, Onopordon faux-acanthe
Gl: Cardo asneiro
De: Gewöhnliche Eselsdistel, Eselsdistel
El: Γαϊδουράγκαθο
Is: Sandfax
It: Acanzio, Onopordo tomentoso, Spina bianca
Kk: Тікенді шағыртікен
Ky: Кадимки коко
Lv: Akantu baltdadzis, Asais baltdadzis
Lt: Dygliuotoji kardažolė
Mk: Магарешки трн
Nv: Hosh waaʼ
No: Bladfaks, Åkerfaks
Nb: Eseltistel
Nn: Eseltistel
Fa: خار پنبه
Pl: Popłoch pospolity
Pt: Acanto-bastardo, Cardo-algodão, Cardo-bastardo, Cardo-escocês, Cardo-selvagem
Pt-br: Cardo-bastardo, Cardo-espinhoso, Cardo-selvagem
Ru: Татарник колючий
Sk: Ostropes obyčajný
Es: Cardo-espinhoso-nobre, Cardo borriquero
Sv: Ulltistel, Foderlosta, Renlosta, Okakruunuohdake, Tistelborre
Zh-tw: 大翅蓟
Uk: Татарник звичайний
Cy: Ysgallen gotwm, Ysgall Cotwm, Ysgallen Gotymog
Synonyms
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Altay (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krym (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Irkutsk (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Nebraska (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
Additional Images
Fruit
Taken Aug 11, 2021 by alain giroux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 9, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 10, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 18, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 26, 2018 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Nov 7, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 17, 2018 by desplis (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 24, 2021 by Josef Zdepa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 18, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2020 by murat (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jan 31, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 9, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 24, 2021 by Josef Zdepa (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 18, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 26, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jul 26, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 11, 2020 by wuffi wuffi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 24, 2021 by Josef Zdepa (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 28, 2017 by César Gonzalez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 7, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 18, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Genevieve BOTTI (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 29, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 10, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 13, 2017 by 1 (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 30, 2021 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 7, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 26, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:235234-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3094900)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Onopordum acanthium L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Soil nutriments: 8