Tribe Cynareae Rank Species | Higher classification Carduus | |
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Similar Carduus, Carduus acanthoides, Daisy family, Carduus nutans, Cirsium palustre | ||
Welted thistle carduus crispus 2012 07 02
Carduus crispus, the curly plumeless thistle or welted thistle, is a biennial herb in the Asteraceae—daisy family. It is native to Europe and Asia.
Contents
- Welted thistle carduus crispus 2012 07 02
- Welted thistle carduus crispus 2012 06 12
- Wildlife
- Medicinal
- Invasive species
- References
The plant is found from Southwestern Europe, through Scandinavia and Siberia, to Eastern Asia. It is also found in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Welted thistle carduus crispus 2012 06 12
Wildlife
The species and genus is a favorite foodplant of caterpillars of the Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui), which derives its specific epithet, cardui, from their preference for Carduus thistles. It is also used by bees for honey production.
Medicinal
Extracts from this plant have been found to have anti-cancer properties, the main one of which being crispine B.
It is said to hold restorative and anodyne properties in its roots.
Invasive species
Carduus crispus is an introduced species in North America, and a noxious weed in several U.S. states, including West Virginia.