Thistle Flower, Purple Against Green Stock Photo

Thistle (Carduus L.) – a genus of plants from the Asteraceae family. It includes about 90 species. The genus' range covers Europe, Asia and Africa. The economic importance of plants is described as generally unfavorable, as many species grow as weeds in garden and field crops, plantations and pastures. The thornless stems, young leaves and the bottoms of the baskets are edible. Peeled stems of burdock thistle, C. personata, collected in spring, are described as one of the tastiest wild vegetables growing in Central Europe.