Changes

[[Image:Milk thistle flowerhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Milk thistle flowerhead]]

[[Image:Milk thistle flowerhead.jpg|thumb|250px|Milk thistle flowerhead]]

==Heraldry==

==Heraldry==

In the [[Language of flowers|Language of Flowers]], the thistle like the [[Burr (fruit)|burr]] is an ancient [[Celts|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.

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 [[Viking]] attacker stepped on one at night and cried out, so alerting the defenders of a [[Scottish castle]].<ref name="Viking">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Written_findings/Onopordum_acanthium.html|title=Scotch thistle|accessdate=2007-10-16|publisher=Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board}}</ref> Whatever the justification, the [[national flower]] of [[Scotland]] is the thistle - specifically ''Onopordum acanthium'', the Scots thistle. It is found in many [[Scottish symbols]] and in [[Thistle (disambiguation)#Football (soccer) clubs|the names]] of several [[football in Scotland|Scottish football]] clubs.

Another story is that a Viking attacker stepped on one at night and cried out, so alerting the defenders of a Scottish castle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitscotland.com/guide/scotland-factfile/scottish-icons/the-thistle|title=The Thistle |accessdate=2007-10-16 |publisher=VisitScotland}}</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 [[Burgundy]] village of [[Chardonnay, Saône-et-Loire]], which in turn is thought to be the home of the famous [[Chardonnay]] grape variety.

''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 a favorite of [[Carduelis|goldfinches]] and some other small birds.]]

[[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

*''[[Echinops]]'' – [[Globethistle]]

*''[[Echinops]]'' – [[Globethistle]]

*''[[Notobasis]]'' – Syrian thistle

*''[[Notobasis]]'' – Syrian thistle

*''[[Onopordum]]'' – [[Cotton thistle]], also known as Scots thistle or Scotch thistle

*''[[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 thistle

*''[[Sonchus]]'' – Sow thistles

{{commons|Cirsium|Thistles}}

{{commons|Cirsium|Thistles}}

Plants in families other than Asteraceae which are sometimes called thistle include:

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==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Asteraceae]]

[[Category:Asteraceae]]