I've read how you can peel the spines off the leaves and stems, to boil with salt, but gosh that seems like it would be very tedious (and it doesn't seem like much material would be left), I wonder if it tastes that good that it's worth it. On the other hand the roots seem to be edible raw and he flower can be cooked like an artichoke, but the whole plant may cause stomach upset and allergic reactions in some people (I wonder if there is any way to know if you are one of the susceptible individuals without actually ingesting it and finding out the hard way). It would be interesting to try at least once and then perhaps have it sparingly thereafter if there are no issues, or just leave it for the butterflies while enjoying at least its visual beauty.
Aside from milk thistle, I think it is interesting that there are at least three different plants which can be referred to as Scotch thistle, one of which is the national flower of Scotland, which I guess is why a nationally syndicated public radio Celtic music program (which was produced in a city about 3 hours from me and aired here in the US for 40 years until last year) was named The Thistle and Shamrock. Since all of these species are likely also present in Galicia and Asturias, which have their own Celtic music traditions, it's not hard for me to imagine gaiteros and gaiteras piping against a backdrop of wild thistles along breezy sea cliff vistas.
@BlueGreenGrey Milk Thistle is said to have many health benefits, and homeopaths use it to treat illnesses. However, medical studies are still being carried out and experts are careful to suggest its use because, at the moment, the evidence that it cures many diseases isn't conclusive yet. True, 🦋butterflies do love it☺
Yes, it does make sense why the radio show playing Celtic music named it The Thistle and Shamrock , the thistle being Scotland's national flower. It's found in many parts of the world, growing on many continents. They're fairly common here; it seems to favor the weather and land conditions, so they easily grow anywhere. Indeed, northern Spain would have them and I agree, they could very well be a beautiful backdrop for Spanish pipers !☺
@cherokeepatti This particular kind grows here in Spain but I read that it's found in many countries as well. Yes, they can take over, it's quite invasive and propagates easily.This kind too has a lot of benefits, mostly used as a supplement but the plant does have parts which are toxic so it's best to buy those sold in pharmacies to make sure only the safe parts of the plant have been extracted for medicinal use😊
