Prickly Russian Thistle

Salsola tragus

Basic Information

Family: Chenopodiaceae

Genus: salsola

Plant ID (slug): salsola-tragus

Numeric ID: 26301

USDA Hardiness: Coming soon

Ratings

Physical Characteristics

Salsola tragus is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

Europe, Naturalized in Northern N. America.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots Edible Uses: Young leaves and stems - raw or cooked[105, 257]. The very young shoots are chopped up and eaten in salads, older shoots are cooked as greens or as a salty flavouring for other foods[257]. Seed - cooked. Roasted and used as food[257].

Medicinal Uses

A poultice of the chewed plants has been applied to ant, bee and wasp stings[257]. An infusion of the plant ashes has been used both internally and as a wash in the treatment of smallpox and influenza[257].