Ribh's D'Coopage

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[RoyalChick]

I must try this milk thistle stuff for the chickens. I don't even know if it grows in the UK.

One of its common names is Scotch Thistle so that may endear it to you (though confusingly I believe it is not in fact the thistle that symbolizes Scotland). It grows throughout Europe.

 

[Ribh]

One of its common names is Scotch Thistle so that may endear it to you (though confusingly I believe it is not in fact the thistle that symbolizes Scotland). It grows throughout Europe.

There is some confusion about its proper scientific name. It's not what we call the Scotch Thistle - which is a nasty, spiky thing. The leaves are serated & the stem secretes a white milky sap when broken. I believe we've had this conversation before and I couldn't I'd it properly. I've only ever known it as the milk Thistle. I will have a look in the morning & see if I do better 2nd time round.

 

[RoyalChick]

There is some confusion about its proper scientific name. It's not what we call the Scotch Thistle - which is a nasty, spiky thing. The leaves are serated & the stem secretes a white milky sap when broken. I believe we've had this conversation before and I couldn't I'd it properly. I've only ever known it as the milk Thistle. I will have a look in the morning & see if I do better 2nd time round.

Milk Thistle is Sylibum marianum. The National flower of Scotland is most likely Cirisium vulgare (though there are disputes among historians about whether it is a different thistle).
Confusingly ‘Scotch’ or ‘Scottish’ thistle is used as a common name for all three!

 

[Ribh]

One of its common names is Scotch Thistle so that may endear it to you (though confusingly I believe it is not in fact the thistle that symbolizes Scotland). It grows throughout Europe.

Ok, here's what I'm talking about: Sonchus oleraceus. It's a NZ native & naturalised to here. One of it's common names is milk thistle. The other common name is sow thistle, though there are others. It seems a lot of animals like this plant judging by the names alone. It's never refered to as a Scotch thistle. If I've understood properly it's related to the daisy family but I'm still foggy~headed with cold so may not have that right.

 

[RoyalChick]

Ok, here's what I'm talking about: Sonchus oleraceus. It's a NZ native & naturalised to here. One of it's common names is milk thistle. The other common name is sow thistle, though there are others. It seems a lot of animals like this plant judging by the names alone. It's never refered to as a Scotch thistle. If I've understood properly it's related to the daisy family but I'm still foggy~headed with cold so may not have that right.

Fascinating. Totally different indeed! When you buy milk thistle extract here - widely used for liver issues - I am pretty sure it is from Sylibum mariarum.
And yes, they are all part of the Daisy family including the various thistles I listed.
I used to be really into this sort of thing but now my brain is full and there is no more room for Latin names!

 

[Ribh]

I must try this milk thistle stuff for the chickens. I don't even know if it grows in th

Ok, clearing this up with RC too. Sonchus oleraceus is the scientific name. It's a NZ native but a naturalised Ozzie. It would love England. It likes damp conditions. I always used to find it in the orchards on the island, or near boggy ground. It's flourishing @ the moment after all the rain we've had but it is a weed. Hares, rabbits, pigs, cows chooks all like to eat it. I have no idea what's in it they find so attractive but they never leave any when I put it down for them.

 

[Ribh]

Fascinating. Totally different indeed! When you buy milk thistle extract here - widely used for liver issues - I am pretty sure it is from Sylibum mariarum.
And yes, they are all part of the Daisy family including the various thistles I listed.
I used to be really into this sort of thing but now my brain is full and there is no more room for Latin names!

I know you're really clever but I was pretty sure you had this one wrong 'cause I was remembering the last conversation we had about it and my poor little non~scientific brain just about imploded but this time I went for google pictures & found the one that matched. It's a problem using the same common name for a variety of different plants. I actually like having this weed around. It's useful for a number of different things. We used to use the milky sap on warts when I was a kid & my brother's rabbit loved the stuff too.

 

[RoyalChick]

Ok, clearing this up with RC too. Sonchus oleraceus is the scientific name. It's a NZ native but a naturalised Ozzie. It would love England. It likes damp conditions. I always used to find it in the orchards on the island, or near boggy ground. It's flourishing @ the moment after all the rain we've had but it is a weed. Hares, rabbits, pigs, cows chooks all like to eat it. I have no idea what's in it they find so attractive but they never leave any when I put it down for them.

Looks like it has a good bit of calcium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonchus_oleraceus

Other nuggets from Wikipedia are that it is considered invasive in Australia and that it makes a good salad.

 

[RoyalChick]

I know you're really clever but I was pretty sure you had this one wrong 'cause I was remembering the last conversation we had about it and my poor little non~scientific brain just about imploded but this time I went for google pictures & found the one that matched. It's a problem using the same common name for a variety of different plants. I actually like having this weed around. It's useful for a number of different things. We used to use the milky sap on warts when I was a kid & my brother's rabbit loved the stuff too.

It is interesting that we have three or possibly four different plants that all share a common name.
Maybe because they all have some kind of white sap that is like milk.