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Thistle
The purple-crowned thistle, often dusty and dry in late summer, is a
familiar plant in field, pasture, or roadside. Many species of thistles are
native to our country, but the two most common originally came to United
States from Europe. Considered here is the Canadian Thistle, a perennial
which spreads faster by its underground rhizomes than by seeds, though it
produces these in great numbers.
Humans and larger mammals avoid all kinds of thistles. Not so the insects.
These warlike plants, with every leaf edge equipped with lances at ready,
have a strong attraction for them. The fragrance and pollen of the colorful
blossoms lure bees, the Painted Lady butterfly, and other insects. These
hover over the flowers tasting the nectar again and again. The bumble bee,
especially is fond of it, and sometimes becomes tipsy as it bumbles from
flower to flower.
Many legends and customs are associated with the thistle, particularly the
European species. The men of Norway called it "the Lightning Plant", and
believed that everyone who wore its blossom was under the protection of
Thor, the Thunder God. However, on one occasion the Norwegians may have
forgotten to wear their thistle emblems, and Thor became angry. One dark
night in the 11th century the presence of thistles betrayed them and
saved a country. King Haakon of Norway had laid claim to some isles of
Scotland. This dark night, to back up his claim, he and his army came
creeping stealthily across the Scotch moors to attack the stronghold of
King Alexander of Scotland. To assure complete surprise, King Haakon
ordered his men to take off their shoes and creep barefoot across the moat.
Alas, instead of water, the moat was carpeted with thistles. A barefoot
soldier stepped upon a thistle's lance, and his cry of pain awakened the
Scots. King Haakon's men were driven from their country and it remained
free. Since then, the Thistle has been the Scottish emblem. Many English
and Scots wore the thistle with pride when King James II created the Order
of the Thistle in the 15th century.
The French also have an Order of the Thistle. Charlemagne, when King of
France, became fearful because many of his soldiers were dying of the plague.
In answer to his fervent prayer for help, an angel appeared before him and
commanded him to shoot his crossbow. Wherever the arrow fell, he would find
a healing herb. The arrow landed upon a thistle. This, when boiled and fed
to the sick men, cured them. Subsequently, the plant became known as "the
Holy Thistle". The Order of the Thistle was founded in honor of the Virgin.
Thistles also played a role in the early history of Utah. The pioneers
gathered one species which was steeped, and the broth fed to persons
suffering from dysentery. The stems and roots were boiled or eaten raw.
Today, the thistle is listed as one of the wild survival foods. Strip off
the outer spines of the main stem, and you have a celery-like food that
will ward off starvation.
The beautiful Goldfinches delay their nest making until late June or early
July so that they may have the down of the thistle to line the nest.
-- by Adrianne Montgomery
Photographs of Thistles
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