marsh thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Marsh Thistle
• European marsh thistle
• European swamp thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polyacantha palustris
• Polycantha palustris
• Cnicus palustris
• Onotrophe palustris
• Cirsium palustre var. mitius
• Cirsium palustre var. cristatus
• Cirsium palustriforme
• Cirsium palatinum
• Cirsium laciniatum
• Cirsium chailletii
• Carduus laciniatus
• Carduus palustris
• Carduus chailletii
• Cirsium kochianum
• Cirsium lacteum
• Cirsium palustre var. putatum
• Cirsium palustre var. torfaceum
• Cirsium palustre var. spinosissimum
• Cirsium palustre var. pallidum
• Cynara palustris
• Serratula palustris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further nested within the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Cirsium, which characterizes its botanical lineage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range primarily concentrated within the northern regions of Europe. Its presence is well-documented throughout Northern Europe, including the territories of Denmark and Finland. The species can also be found inhabiting the coastal landscapes of the Faroe Islands. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These locations highlight the plant's preference for the temperate and northern climates of the European continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cirsium palustre is characterized by its ability to thrive in a diverse range of moisture-rich environments, showing a particular preference for habitats that maintain consistent hydration. It is commonly found colonizing wet meadows, marshes, and swamps, where the soil remains damp or saturated. Beyond these aquatic-adjacent zones, the species extends its ecological range into forest clearings, shrubberies, and even more open steppe landscapes, provided there is sufficient moisture availability. This versatility allows it to occupy various successional stages of vegetation, from dense, shaded shrubby areas to the sunnier, more exposed stretches of damp grasslands.

Habitat :

forest, meadows: wet, shrubberies, steppe, swamps

Life history

The life history of Cirsium palustre is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, typically completing its development over a two-year period. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate during dormant periods. In terms of its foliage, the plant exhibits evergreen characteristics, maintaining its vegetative structures through various seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cirsium palustre is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is not aquatic or epiphytic. The plant's stature varies in height, with a minimum measurement of 0.6 m, a mean height of approximately 0.825 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.825 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cirsium palustre is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its reliance on the standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. It is a non-carnivorous species and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its metabolic requirements. The plant's foliage exhibits specific morphological and structural dimensions, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 35 cm and a consistent leaf width maintained at 15 cm (representing both the mean and the minimum/maximum values). Structurally, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 181.02 cm²/g, which reflects its leaf density and the efficiency of its light interception strategies within its habitat.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf width mean:

15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

181.02 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cirsium palustre is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, although asexual reproduction is noted as absent. The plant follows a monocarpic life cycle. The flowering period is extensive, beginning in April and concluding in September. Pollination is a biotic process primarily mediated by insects, with a specific emphasis on bees. While self-fertilization is present, the plant relies on these animal vectors for successful reproduction. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruits categorized as achenes, which are indehiscent in nature. These fruits typically measure approximately 0.3 cm in length and 0.1 cm in width. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.00159866666666667 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00157 g to a maximum of 0.002 g. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length mean:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.1 cm

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.002 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00159866666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00157 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cirsium palustre has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Cirsium palustre has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sodium picolinate, Tannins.

Sodium picolinate

1. Natural product research

Tannins

1. Natural product research

Activities

Cirsium palustre has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Cirsium palustre has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 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

Preparations

Cirsium palustre has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, polyolefinic compound from roots.

Extracts

1. Natural product research

Polyolefinic compound from roots

1. Natural product research