soldier thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• soldier thistle
• Yellow-spine Thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cirsium acarna
• Carlina acarna
• Cnicus acarna
• Cirsium pisidium
• Carduus acarna
• Carthamus canescens
• Picnomon spinosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in the countries of Finland and Sweden. Its presence extends into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the Baleares islands. Additionally, the species is recorded within the borders of France. Finally, the distribution reaches as far as Portugal in the southwestern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Picnomon acarna is defined by its ability to thrive across a significant altitudinal gradient, typically occupying an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 1100 m AMSL to a maximum of 2400 m AMSL. While it can be found in diverse natural settings, it is also frequently documented within garden habitats, suggesting a degree of adaptability to managed environments. Furthermore, the species possesses integrated defense mechanisms, indicating an evolutionary strategy to mitigate herbivory and environmental stressors within its ecological niche.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1100 m AMSL

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Picnomon acarna is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its botanical life form, the species exhibits characteristics of both a therophyte and a hemicryptophyte. As a therophyte, it typically survives the unfavorable seasons in the form of seeds, emerging only when environmental conditions are suitable for rapid growth. Additionally, its classification as a hemicryptophyte indicates that its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by the substrate or leaf litter, which aids in its survival strategy within its specific ecological niche.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Picnomon acarna is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, which manifests as a self-supporting plant rather than a vine or liana. It maintains a relatively small stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1 m. In terms of its ecological habit, the plant is primarily terrestrial, though it can occupy aquatic or semiaquatic environments. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is strictly terrestrial in its epiphytic status rather than being an obligate or facultative epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Picnomon acarna is characterized by a specialized vegetative structure optimized for efficient photosynthesis and transpiration management within its native ecosystem. The foliage exhibits specific morphological dimensions that play a crucial role in its metabolic processes, with leaf length reaching a maximum of 17 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width reaches a maximum of 3 cm, providing a surface area ratio that facilitates gas exchange while managing solar radiation absorption. This specific leaf architecture, defined by its 17 cm by 3 cm maximal dimensions, dictates the plant's hydraulic conductance and its ability to maintain turgor pressure under varying environmental conditions.

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Picnomon acarna is characterized by a specific flowering period that typically begins in July and concludes in August. During this time, the plant produces violet-colored flowers that measure between 1.4 cm and 1.9 cm in length. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent and vary in size, with a length ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm and a width between 0.2 cm and 0.3 cm. The seeds contained within the fruit are quite small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.0096 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.0068 g to a maximum of 0.01436 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

1.9 cm

Flower length min:

1.4 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.01436 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0096083335 g

Seed mass min:

0.0068 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Picnomon acarna has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Hyperoside, TNF alpha, hesperidin.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hyperoside

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

TNF alpha

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

hesperidin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Picnomon acarna has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include TNF-alpha.

Tnf-alpha

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Picnomon acarna has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Soxhlet (SOE), methanolic extracts obtained by maceration (MAC), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE).

Soxhlet (soe)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanolic extracts obtained by maceration (mac)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (uae)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)