Carlina vulgaris 'Carline Thistle'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Asteraceae: upright, branched or unbranched biennial to 60cm. growing in dry calcareous grassland. The flowers are golden-brown, rayless heads 15-40mm across, surrounded by spreading, straw-coloured bracts, in clusters from July-September, the dead flower heads persist well into the next year. The seeds are feathery pappus like hairs. The leaves are oblong with wavy margins and spiny lobes, downy lower leaves. Locally common only. Native to Europe, including Britain, north to 60° North, east to Siberia, Caucasus and Western Asia.

USES:

The flowering heads can be cooked, and used as a globe artichoke substitute.

It is only occasionally used nowadays in the treatment of spasms of the digestive tract, gall bladder and liver disorders, dropsy, urine retention, the root has also been used in treating a range of skin complaints such as acne and eczema. A decoction of the root can be used externally to cleanse wounds or as an antiseptic gargle. Some caution should be employed since in large doses the root is purgative and emetic. The root is antibiotic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, mildly diuretic, emetic in large doses, febrifuge and purgative in large doses. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Surface sow seeds in a cold frame in the spring, seeds normally germinate in 4-8 weeks at 15°C. Well-drained site in full sun.

HARVESTED: 2022*

APPROX. 50+ SEEDS