Marsh thistle - Cirsium palustre

Common Name :	Marsh thistle.
Binomial Name :	Cirsium palustre
Family :	Asteraceae
Photo Taken :	Ireland

Botanical Identity

Cirsium palustre, commonly known as marsh thistle, is a tall biennial plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to much of Europe and parts of western Asia, and typically grows in moist to wet habitats such as marshes, wet meadows, bogs, and ditches. As its common name suggests, it thrives in damp, acidic soils and plays an important role in wetland ecosystems.

Plant Description

This thistle is a tall, upright biennial, growing up to 1.5–2 meters in its second year. It has a narrow, branched stem covered in spines and soft hairs. The leaves are dark green, deeply lobed, and edged with sharp spines; they are arranged alternately and can be up to 30 cm long. A distinguishing feature is that the stem is often winged with spiny extensions of the leaf bases. In its first year, it forms a low rosette of spiny leaves.

Flowers and Fruit Characteristics

The flowers of Marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) are small, tubular, and usually purple, though paler shades can occur. They are densely packed into narrow, cylindrical flower heads, about 1.5–2 cm long, clustered at the top of spiny branches. Blooming from June to September, the plant attracts a wide range of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. After flowering, it produces small, dry, single-seeded fruits known as achenes, each equipped with a feathery pappus to aid in wind dispersal.

Uses and Cultural Significance

Although not widely used in human cuisine or medicine, Cirsium palustre is ecologically valuable. It provides nectar for many insects and seeds for birds such as goldfinches. Its presence in wetland areas supports biodiversity, and it is sometimes used in ecological restoration projects. In traditional practices, some parts of the plant may have been used for their mild astringent properties, though it is not commonly harvested today. Its tall, spiny form also offers a degree of protection for nesting birds in open wetland environments.

Photos of this Marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) were taken from the following locations:
1) July 2016: War memorial garden, Dublin, Ireland.


Written by Lonely Traveler,
For blog icflora.blogspot.com