[083] Cirsium eriophorum, Woolly Thistle
Introduction
Cirsium eriophorum, the Woolly Thistle, is a large biennial thistle plant with a large purple inflorescence that is much more impressive than our other thistles. It is covered in hairs that give it its woolly appearance.
Taxonomy
Kingdom – Plants
Phylum – Vascular Plants
Class – Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
Order – Asterales
Family – Asteraceae
Subfamily – Carduoideae (Thistle family)
Tribe – Cynareae (Mostly thistles)
Genus – Cirsium (Plumed Thistles)
Scientific Name – Cirsium eriophorum
Name
Eriophorum comes from Latinized Greek meaning wool–bearing.
Description
Cirsium eriophorum has some similarities with other the species in the genus Cirsium that we saw yesterday. As a biennial it is the largest of our thistles with a sturdy stalk, reaching heights of well over a metre. It has some impressive sharp spines.
All of the plant is covered with tiny hairs, which give it a silvery look.
The globular inflorescences have bright purple stamens at the top, and spiked woolly bracts at the base.
(You will recognise these pictures from [052] Bumble Bees, where the Bombus lapidarius was featured.)
Habitat and use
The Woolly Thistle is found over central and Western Europe. It Britain it is limited to central and Southern England. It likes open grass and scrubland and chalky soils.
The leaves and stems can be eaten and the flower buds can be used in the same way as [111] Artichoke.
Other Notes
I have found Cirsium eriophorum in scrubland on the slopes of the Cotswolds.
The Species of Britain 