Cirsium spinosissimum

Alpine thistle ( Cirsium spinosissimum )

The Alpine thistle ( Cirsium spinosissimum ) is a plant of the genus of thistles ( Cirsium ) in the subfamily Carduoideae within the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). Other common names are spiny thistle, frequent thorn thistle or Kratzigste thistle. Its botanical name means thorniest of all thistles.

Description

The perennial herbaceous plant reaches heights of growth between 20 and 80 centimeters. She is hairy stand-off. The thick stem is usually densely leafy throughout its length. The stiff, pungent leaves are deeply sinuate and deeply pinnatifid with dornzähnigen sections. The lower leaves are stalked, the upper cordate amplexicaul.

There are usually two or pale yellow more, terminal baskets together. The spiny toothed, white - yellowish bracts are about 20 to 25 millimeters long. The tubular flowers are pale yellow.

The 3 to 5 millimeters in size, brownish achene has a pappus feathery.

The chromosome number is 2n = 22

Ecology

The flowering period extends from July to September. The show effect of the accumulation of flower baskets is exacerbated by the long pointed bracts and is he bald High Alpine region visible from afar. As pollinators act moths, beetles and flies.

The Alpine thistle is an annoying " pasture weeds " and is fought on pastures. The adult plants are protected by the many thorns before cattle grazing. Young flower heads are still eaten by the sheep.

The Alpine thistle is considered nitrogen pointer and soil stabilizer. Pointer values ​​by Ellenberg L-7, T-2, K -5, F- 6, R -7, N-8, S -0.

Occurrence

The Alpine thistle occurs only in the Alps. The range extends from the Rhone eastward across northern Italy, Switzerland and Germany to Lower Austria and Styria. Information for the Apennines refer to Bertolonies thistle ( Cirsium Bertoloni ).

As the site fresh to moist Hochstaudenfluren, especially Bach edges, nitrogen-rich sites on pastures, between boulders on rock debris and in warehouses hallways at altitudes 1100-3000 meters are preferred.

Use

The thorny leaves are masterpieces of ornamentation and served in the Middle Ages as a template for brocade embroidery and decorative Gothic rate.

Young shoots are used as spinach or as an ingredient for the spring herb soup. In some Alpine valleys, the plant was boiled and fed to pigs.