ground thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• ground thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cirsium esculentum var. caulescens
• Cirsium rhodoleucanthum
• Cirsium esculentum var. acaule
• Cnicus esculentus
• Cnicus gmelinii
• Cirsium acaulon subsp. esculentum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae, falling under the genus Cirsium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions within Eastern Europe. It can be found throughout the vast landscapes of Central European Russia and East European Russia. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the territory of South European Russia. The plant is also widely documented across the country of Ukraine. Finally, its range reaches into the Siberian region, specifically within Altay.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cirsium esculentum is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse environmental landscapes, ranging from lush meadows and wet meadows to montane regions, saline places, and open steppe environments. This species exhibits a significant altitudinal distribution, thriving at elevations starting from a minimum of 500 m AMSL and reaching a maximum of 3200 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1850 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to colonize both mid-altitude plains and high-altitude mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

meadows, meadows: wet, mountains, saline places, steppe

Life history

The life history of Cirsium esculentum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by residual plant matter or soil. This hemicryptophytic nature enables the plant to endure unfavorable environmental conditions while maintaining its ability to regrow during favorable periods.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cirsium esculentum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This plant is self-supporting, exhibiting neither climbing nor liana-like tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is primarily a terrestrial species, though its ecological niche can span across aquatic and semiaquatic environments. Structurally, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 0.35 meters, maintaining a non-woody composition throughout its physical structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cirsium esculentum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by specific leaf dimensions that facilitate its photosynthetic capacity. The leaves exhibit a mean length of 8 cm, ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width maintains a mean of 2.75 cm, with observed values spanning from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. These morphological parameters, integrated with its C3 metabolism, govern the plant's gas exchange and energy acquisition efficiency.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cirsium esculentum is characterized by a bisexual reproductive system, ensuring that individual flowers possess both male and female functional organs. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through September. Following successful pollination, the plant develops small fruits, known as achenes, which exhibit highly consistent dimensions; the fruit maintains a length of approximately 0.5 cm (with minimum, mean, and maximum values all recorded at this measurement) and a width of 0.18 cm (with minimum, mean, and maximum values also remaining constant at this measurement). These fruits are distributed via an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing wind currents to facilitate the spread of seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.18 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cirsium esculentum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, ETHYL GALLATE, Hyperoside, RUTIN, Salipurposide.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections

ETHYL GALLATE

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections

Hyperoside

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections

RUTIN

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections

Salipurposide

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections

Syringin

1. Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections