Japanese thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese thistle
• tiger thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cnicus japonicus
• Carduus japonicus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and the genus Cirsium. Specifically, Cirsium japonicum represents a distinct species within this botanical hierarchy.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions. In Europe, its presence can be recorded within the borders of Poland. Moving toward Asia, it is found extensively throughout various parts of China, including the South-Central area. Its range also extends into the northern territories, specifically within Inner Mongolia and North-Central China. Finally, the species can be located in the high-altitude landscapes of Qinghai.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cirsium japonicum is characterized by its distribution across diverse altitudinal gradients, typically inhabiting montane and subalpine environments. It thrives within a broad elevational range that spans from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2100 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the species maintains an average elevation of approximately 1250 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude ecological zones where it can interact with specific moisture and temperature regimes. This vertical distribution allows the plant to occupy various niches within its ecosystem, ranging from lower montane slopes to higher, more temperate elevations.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cirsium japonicum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and survival mechanisms, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable conditions. This hemicryptophytic life form is consistent across its morphological development, ensuring that the plant can effectively regenerate from its basal structures following periods of dormancy.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cirsium japonicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning primarily as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte. As a non-climbing species, it does not exhibit any climbing habits, remaining entirely self-supporting through its own structural integrity. Its physical development is consistent with a herbaceous life cycle, lacking any woody tissues, which defines its stature as a soft-stemmed forb within its natural habitat.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cirsium japonicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure relies on leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation in size. These leaves typically maintain a minimum length of 8 cm, with a mean length of 16.25 cm, reaching a maximum potential length of 25 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, providing a diverse surface area for light interception and gas exchange necessary for its metabolic functions.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

16.25 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cirsium japonicum culminates in the production of specialized fruits that exhibit high morphological consistency. The resulting fruits are characterized by a uniform length and width, with the mean length measuring 0.4 cm, which is consistent across its minimum and maximum recorded values of 0.4 cm. Similarly, the fruit width maintains a strict uniformity, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 0.25 cm. This lack of variance in the fruit dimensions indicates a highly standardized reproductive output in terms of the size of the individual achenes produced.

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.25 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cirsium japonicum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root.

Flower

1. Genomics & informatics

Leaf

1. Genomics & informatics

Root

1. Genomics & informatics

Chemicals

Cirsium japonicum has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cirsimaritin, Linarin, Pectolinarin, 8,9,10-triacetoxyheptadeca-1-ene-11,13-diyne, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

Cirsimaritin

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Linarin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Pectolinarin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Drug metabolism letters

8,9,10-triacetoxyheptadeca-1-ene-11,13-diyne

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Ciryneol A

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Ciryneol C

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Daucosterol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Flavonoids

1. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Activities

Cirsium japonicum has 6 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Hepatoprotective.

Analgesic

1. Drug metabolism letters

Antidepressant

1. Drug metabolism letters

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antiviral

1. Drug metabolism letters

Hepatoprotective

1. Drug metabolism letters

Neuroprotective

1. Drug metabolism letters

Medicinal Uses

Cirsium japonicum has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, bleeding.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations