Difference between revisions of "Thistle"
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[[Image:Milk thistle flowerhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Milk thistle flowerhead]] | [[Image:Milk thistle flowerhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Milk thistle flowerhead]] | ||
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==Heraldry== | ==Heraldry== | ||
| − | In the | + | In the "Language of Flowers", the thistle [[Burr (fruit)|burr]] is an ancient Celtic symbol of nobility of character as well as of birth; for the wounding or provocation of a thistle yields punishment. For this reason the thistle was subsumed as a device of The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest order of Scottish chivalry. |
| − | Another story is that a | + | Another story is that a Viking attacker stepped on one at night and cried out, so alerting the defenders of a Scottish castle.<ref>[http://www.visitscotland.com/guide/scotland-factfile/scottish-icons/the-thistle VisitScotland: The Thistle]</ref> Whatever the justification, the national flower of [[Scotland]] is the thistle - either ''Cirsium vulgare'', ''Cirsium acaule'', or ''Onopordum acanthium''. It is found in many Scottish symbols and in the names of several Scottish football clubs. |
==Place names== | ==Place names== | ||
| − | ''Carduus'' is the Latin for a thistle (hence [[cardoon]]), and ''Cardonnacum'' is the Latin for a place with thistles. This is believed to be the origin of name of the | + | ''Carduus'' is the Latin for a thistle (hence [[cardoon]]), and ''Cardonnacum'' is the Latin for a place with thistles. This is believed to be the origin of name of the Burgundy village of Chardonnay, Saône-et-Loire, which in turn is thought to be the home of the famous [[Chardonnay]] grape variety. |
==Taxa== | ==Taxa== | ||
| − | [[Image:Thistledown 1781.JPG|right|thumb|[[Thistledown]], a method of [[Biological dispersal|seed dispersal]] by wind. The tiny seeds are | + | [[Image:Thistledown 1781.JPG|right|thumb|[[Thistledown]], a method of [[Biological dispersal|seed dispersal]] by wind. The tiny seeds are an important food for [[Carduelis|goldfinches]] and some other small birds.]] |
Genera in the Asteraceae with the word thistle often used in their common names include: | Genera in the Asteraceae with the word thistle often used in their common names include: | ||
*''[[Arctium]]'' – [[Burdock]] | *''[[Arctium]]'' – [[Burdock]] | ||
*''[[Carduus]]'' – Musk Thistle and others | *''[[Carduus]]'' – Musk Thistle and others | ||
| − | *''[[Carlina]]'' – [[Carline thistle]] | + | *''[[Carlina]]'' – [[Carline thistle]]s |
*''[[Centaurea]]'' – [[Star thistle]] | *''[[Centaurea]]'' – [[Star thistle]] | ||
*''[[Cicerbita]]'' – Sow thistle | *''[[Cicerbita]]'' – Sow thistle | ||
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*''[[Echinops]]'' – [[Globethistle]] | *''[[Echinops]]'' – [[Globethistle]] | ||
*''[[Notobasis]]'' – Syrian thistle | *''[[Notobasis]]'' – Syrian thistle | ||
| − | *''[[Onopordum]]'' – [[Cotton thistle]], also known as Scots thistle or | + | *''[[Onopordum]]'' – [[Cotton thistle]]s, also known as Scots thistle or Scottish thistle |
*''[[Scolymus]]'' – Golden thistle or oyster thistle | *''[[Scolymus]]'' – Golden thistle or oyster thistle | ||
| − | *''[[Silybum]]'' – [[Milk thistle]] | + | *''[[Silybum]]'' – [[Milk thistle]]s |
| − | *''[[Sonchus]]'' – Sow | + | *''[[Sonchus]]'' – Sow thistles |
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| − | Plants in families other than Asteraceae which are | + | Plants in families other than Asteraceae which are rarely also called thistle include: |
*''[[Salsola]]'' – Saltwort, tumbleweed or Russian thistle (family [[Amaranthaceae]]) | *''[[Salsola]]'' – Saltwort, tumbleweed or Russian thistle (family [[Amaranthaceae]]) | ||
== Notes and references== | == Notes and references== | ||
| − | + | <references /> | |
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[[Category:Asteraceae]] | [[Category:Asteraceae]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:49, 13 July 2009
Thistle is the common name of a polyphyletic group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp spines or prickles on the margins, mostly in the plant family Asteraceae. Their prickles often occur all over the plant, including on the stem and flat parts of the leaf. These are an adaptation to protect the plant against herbivorous animals, discouraging them from feeding on the plant.
Heraldry
In the "Language of Flowers", the thistle burr is an ancient Celtic symbol of nobility of character as well as of birth; for the wounding or provocation of a thistle yields punishment. For this reason the thistle was subsumed as a device of The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest order of Scottish chivalry.
Another story is that a Viking attacker stepped on one at night and cried out, so alerting the defenders of a Scottish castle.[1] Whatever the justification, the national flower of Scotland is the thistle - either Cirsium vulgare, Cirsium acaule, or Onopordum acanthium. It is found in many Scottish symbols and in the names of several Scottish football clubs.
Place names
Carduus is the Latin for a thistle (hence cardoon), and Cardonnacum is the Latin for a place with thistles. This is believed to be the origin of name of the Burgundy village of Chardonnay, Saône-et-Loire, which in turn is thought to be the home of the famous Chardonnay grape variety.
Taxa
Genera in the Asteraceae with the word thistle often used in their common names include:
- Arctium – Burdock
- Carduus – Musk Thistle and others
- Carlina – Carline thistles
- Centaurea – Star thistle
- Cicerbita – Sow thistle
- Cirsium – Common Thistle, Field Thistle and others
- Cnicus – Blessed thistle
- Cynara – Artichokes, Cardoon
- Echinops – Globethistle
- Notobasis – Syrian thistle
- Onopordum – Cotton thistles, also known as Scots thistle or Scottish thistle
- Scolymus – Golden thistle or oyster thistle
- Silybum – Milk thistles
- Sonchus – Sow thistles
Plants in families other than Asteraceae which are rarely also called thistle include:
- Salsola – Saltwort, tumbleweed or Russian thistle (family Amaranthaceae)
