Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.
Cirsium arvense
Cirsium arvense, commonly known as creeping thistle or Canada thistle, is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and western Asia. It is also found in northern Africa and has been widely introduced elsewhere. The plant forms extensive clonal colonies from thickened roots that send up numerous erect shoots during the growing season. It is known for its spiny leaves and pink-purple flowers arranged in compound cymes.
Details
Asterales
Asteraceae
Cirsium
The plant contains compounds that attract pollinators, such as p-anisaldehyde and phenylacetaldehyde. These compounds are part of the plant's floral fragrance, which also includes terpenes like oxoisophoroneoxide and dihydrooxoisophorone. The fragrance emission decreases after pollination and increases with age, regulated by a feedback mechanism.
The roots of Cirsium arvense are edible and considered nutritious, though they can induce flatulence. The leaves are also edible but are too spiny to be practical for food preparation. The stalks are more easily despined and edible. The plant is used in some gin productions, such as Bruichladdich distillery's 'The Botanist' gin. The feathery pappus is used by the Cherokee to fletch blowgun darts.
July to September
Spring to early summer
30–150 cm
Pink-purple
Meadows, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed areas. It thrives in areas with moderate sunlight intensity, temperatures, and plentiful ground water.
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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