Cirsium oligophyllum

Physical Characteristics

Cirsium oligophyllum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - central Japan.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Oil Root Edible Uses: Oil Young leaves - cooked[177]. Added to soups or fried[183]. Root - cooked[177]. The roots are slender with scarcely developed rhizomes[275]. They are scraped into pieces, steeped in water and preserved in miso[183]. The root is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans. This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence[K]. The flower heads are fried or used in salads[183].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known