Cotton Thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cotton-thistle
• Scotch-thistle
• Scotch cotton-thistle
• Scotch thistle
• heraldic thistle
• Cotton Thistle
• Scottish thistle
• giant thistle
• woolly thistle
• Scotch cotton thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by its genus name, Onoṕordum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, its presence can be observed throughout the territories of Denmark and Great Britain. It also inhabits the landscapes of Ireland, extending its range into the northern reaches of the continent. Furthermore, the species is found within the borders of Norway. Finally, its geographical reach includes the country of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Onopordum acanthium is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2400 m AMSL. This species is highly adaptable to disturbed environments, frequently colonizing anthropogenic landscapes such as crop fields, old fields, and various rudeural sites. Furthermore, its biological associations include a lack of mycorrhizal dependency, as it does not form mycorrhizal relationships (no).

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, old fields, ruderal sites

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Onopordum acanthium is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its developmental stages over a period of two years. During its initial phase, the plant focuses on vegetative growth, before transitioning to its reproductive stage in the second year. As a deciduous species, it sheds its foliage according to seasonal shifts, which is a key aspect of its survival strategy. In terms of its botanical classification regarding growth habits, the plant exhibits characteristics of both a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, and a therophyte, reflecting its ability to complete its life cycle through seed production that allows for seasonal persistence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Onopordum acanthium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This self-supporting plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It exhibits a variable stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 1.51 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing or vining behaviors.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.51 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Onopordum acanthium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil rather than insectivory, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's vegetative morphology exhibits significant variability in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, maintaining an average length of 20 cm. The leaf width fluctuates between 3 cm and 15 cm, resulting in a mean width of 9.5 cm. These dimensional traits contribute to a mean leaf size of 49.285 cm², while the Specific Leaf Area (SLA) averages 142.5 cm²/g, reflecting its structural investment in leaf tissue density and surface area for light interception.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length mean:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

49.285 cm²

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

142.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Onopordum acanthium is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle that follows a monocarpous pattern, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through September. This process relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization, although self-fertilization is also present. Following successful pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. These fruits maintain a consistent length of approximately 0.6 cm. The resulting seeds are small, with a mean length of 5 mm, a mean width of 2 mm, and a mean mass of 0.010062 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0024 g to a maximum of 0.0118 g). Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0118 g

Seed mass mean:

0.010062 g

Seed mass min:

0.0024 g

Seed width mean:

2 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Onopordum acanthium 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. Planta medica

Chemicals

Onopordum acanthium has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Protoplasma
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

apigenin

1. Planta medica
2. Protoplasma

luteolin

1. Planta medica
2. Protoplasma

quercetin

1. Protoplasma
2. PeerJ

13-Oxo-9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid

1. Planta medica

24-Methylenecholesterol

1. Planta medica

Flavonoid

1. Protoplasma

Hispidulin

1. Planta medica

Lignans

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Onopordum acanthium has 15 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticholinesterase, Antidiabetic.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Enzyme and microbial technology

Antibacterial

1. PeerJ

Anticancer

1. PeerJ

Anticholinesterase

1. Protoplasma

Antidiabetic

1. Protoplasma

Antifungal

1. Protoplasma

Antimicrobial

1. Protoplasma

Antioxidant

1. Protoplasma

Antiproliferative

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Onopordum acanthium has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HeLa cells, Staphylococcus aureus, cardiotonic, neurodegenerative disorders, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations