Cabbage Thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cabbage Thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Serratula oleracea
• Cirsium rigens var. laevigatum
• Cirsium parviflorum
• Cirsium subalatum
• Cnicus oleraceus
• Cnicus pratensis
• Cnicus rigens
• Cynara colorata
• Onotrophe oleracea
• Carduus acanthifolius
• Carduus oleraceus
• Cirsium variabile
• Cirsium laeve

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Cirsium as the species Cirsium oleaceum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The range also includes the coastal and inland areas of Norway. Together, these locations define the primary northern territories where the species is located.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cirsium oleaceum is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and varied landscapes, ranging from dense woodland environments to open, sunlit expanses. It is commonly found inhabiting forests and forest edges, where it utilizes the transitional zones between canopy cover and open light. The species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, colonizing a wide spectrum of moisture regimes, including wet meadows, swamps, and more arid steppe environments. Additionally, it is frequently observed growing within shrubberies, demonstrating its capacity to integrate into complex, multi-layered vegetative structures across these different successional stages and moisture gradients.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, meadows: wet, shrubberies, steppe, swamps

Life history

The life history of Cirsium oleaceum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic debris during unfavorable periods. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it enters dormancy, which is a key aspect of its seasonal survival strategy. This combination of a long-lived perennial habit and a hemicryptophytic life form enables the species to maintain stability within its ecological niche across varying environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cirsium oleaceum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting, independent species that does not function as a parasite or a climber. It is a terrestrial organism with a height that varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cirsium oleaceum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many temperate flora that relies on the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco. As a non-carnivorous organism, it derives all its essential nutrients through soil uptake and photosynthesis rather than through the capture of prey. Morphologically, the plant exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 31.0725 cm², providing a substantial surface area for light interception and gas exchange. This structural investment is further reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which averages 300.78 cm²/g, indicating a moderate leaf thickness and a physiological balance between resource acquisition efficiency and structural durability.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

31.0725 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

300.78 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cirsium oleaceum is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle that relies on biotic pollination mechanisms. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through September. During this time, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically attracting insects, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive strategy is heavily integrated with these insect pollinators. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent and possess a mean seed mass of approximately 0.002592 g. For the dispersal of its offspring, the plant employs an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind to spread its seeds. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, meaning the population relies entirely on the success of its sexual reproductive processes.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

0.002592 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cirsium oleraceum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins.

Tannins

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Cirsium oleraceum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacillus subtilis

1. Natural product research

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Natural product research

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Natural product research