Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Caroline - At first glance it looks like a thistle, which is a weed. Are the edges really sharp and prickly? http://www.nesc.k12.in.us/union/Mr.%20Sly/Plant%20Images/pages/Thistle%20Plants.\ htm A thistle has flowers on it at some point that look like those in the link above, but the plant is usually considered an invasive weed. At 11:43 AM 4/17/2006, you wrote: >Okay so I have this plant in my front yard...and I would be >interested to know if it is worth keeping or if I should pull it as >everyone else around here is doing. If it is worth keeping...PLEASE >tell me what it is...I am so very plant challenged!! > >http://pg.photos./ph/theladie/album?.dir=/d663 > >Thanks! >Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Thank you...that is what I thought it was...but didn't want to yank something that might be worthwhile! lol As I said...I really am plant challenged. Caroline A thistle has flowers on it at some point that look like those in the link above, but the plant is usually considered an invasive weed. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.2/314 - Release Date: 4/16/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Is it prickly?... What do the flowers look like?Caroline <ladyguinevere@...> wrote: Okay so I have this plant in my front yard...and I would be interested to know if it is worth keeping or if I should pull it as everyone else around here is doing. If it is worth keeping...PLEASE tell me what it is...I am so very plant challenged!!http://pg.photos./ph/theladie/album?.dir=/d663Thanks!Caroline-- No virus found in this outgoing message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.2/314 - Release Date: 4/16/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 , I was leaning that way too... wondering about flowers and if it did have pricklies.. Suzi Landes <L@...> wrote: Caroline -At first glance it looks like a thistle, which is a weed. Are the edges really sharp and prickly? Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Messenger with Voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 A couple of blocks from me is a road that the city did extensive shoulder and curb work to a couple of years ago. They left the banks of the road in dirt and thistles took hold. It only took two years for the thistles to cover one side of the road on one bank - they must go on for two blocks or more. They are pretty when they bloom, but it was amazing to see how quickly they became established and spread. Reminded me of a mint plant. I get them in the yard every year and they are hard to get rid of. Caroline, if you dig that plant up I bet it has a tap root 3 feet long, if not longer. At 01:19 PM 4/17/2006, you wrote: , I was leaning that way too... wondering about flowers and if it did have pricklies.. Suzi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 I am definitely going to dig it up to get all of the root...as it is in the area where I want to plant some herbs. It is in a space in my front yard that actually has grass in it...but it is rectangular and next to impossible to mow...so I decided to kill the grass and plant some other good stuff in there!! We will see what happens..lol Caroline I get them in the yard every year and they are hard to get rid of. Caroline, if you dig that plant up I bet it has a tap root 3 feet long, if not longer. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.2/314 - Release Date: 4/16/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Hello Caroline It looks like you may have either Canada Thistle or Bull thistle which is the American version of the Scotch thistle or Scots thistle( national flower of Scotland ( hard to really tell from photos and with out the flower) Many thistle types are and were historically used for herbal remedies and I have included a list for all the names of thistle I could fined in my books at hand.. If you research and decide to let this one grow for novelty sake, harvest the flower heads Before they set seed and pop any that shoot from the roots to keep them under control.. 1 or 3 of the right thistles in the right garden spot are an attractive conversation piece. I have included some info on Canada Thistle and my reference sources. Canada Thistle Cirisum arvense (L.) Parts used Leaves, root Perennial/ 1-5ft. with vigorous taproots; usually forms colonies. Stems smooth, leafy near top. Leaves oblong to lance-shaped; margins very prickly. Flowers small, pink to violet (rarely white); to 3-4 in. across; bracts strongly appressed Blooms July-Set. Habitat Fields, pastures, roadsides. Habitat warning: Seriously alien weed from Europe… has been known to chock out/kill off many native plant in areas where it has become established Uses; Leaf tea is tonic and diuretic. Once used for tuberculosis: externally for skin eruptions, skin ulcers, and poison-ivy rash. Root tea used for dysentery, diarrhea. American Indians used root tea as a bowel tonic and de-wormer. Other varieties of thistle include Swamp thistle; Bull thistle which is the American version of the Scotch thistle or Scots thistle( national flower of Scotland); Beach thistle; Field thistle; Bristly thistle; Nodding thistle; Russian thistle; Sow thistle; Star thistle ; Cotton thistle; Dwarf thistle; Holy thistle; Milk thistle; Sacred thistle; Stemless Carline thistle; Common Carline thistle; and Blessed thistle References and resources: s Field Guides for Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants By and A. Duke Wildflowers and Weeds ; a Field Guide in Full Color By Booth Courtenay and H. Zimmerman Herbs; The visual guide to more than 700 herb species from around the world By Lesley Bremness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Well, I've heard that thistle is beneficial in some ways, can't remember what at the moment. Found this web-site, though..... http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/t/thistl11.html Then there's this from the files.... http://f5.grp.fs.com/v1/8B1EROWrqUasQGTE-GddryLpwI9ONOzw873W-_9ha3gt30KhxEcNwX6KuNFt62HpJjHNJGj181tqteYQ9SEAQQ/Herbs%20%26%20Spices/Milk%20Thistle Sorry, if I had my computer files available, I'd have a bunch more for you. Hope this helps. Caroline <ladyguinevere@...> wrote: Thank you...that is what I thought it was...but didn't want to yank something that might be worthwhile! lol As I said...I really am plant challenged.Caroline Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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