Russian thistle
Kali tragus
Summary 6
Kali tragus, commonly known as Russian thistle, prickly Russian thistle, windwitch, common saltwort, and tumbleweed, is an annual forb native to Eurasia. It can be grazed while young but becomes quickly inedible as it grows into a bunch of tangled stems.
Botanical Information 7
Russian thistle, also known as tumbleweed, is non-native plant from Russia. It is invasive and takes over other plants. When the small thin flowers bloom in July to October, they can be a green-like color to a pinkish-white color. The leaves are alternating and spine-like on pink and white striped stems. When the plant is near the end of its life cycle it looks like the tumbleweeds that blow across the ground and becomes prickly.
Ecological Information 6
Russian thistle can grow in almost any type of habitat and soil. It grows best in dry uncrowded land. When it’s windy, it comes out of the ground and rolls around to spread its seeds. Some animals eat it when it is young and still green like prairie dogs, elk, and birds.
Ethnobotanical Information 6
When it’s not prickly and still young and green you can eat it. It tastes like greens and can be added to soups and broth. Russian thistle was thought to have arrived in the U.S. in the 1870s when South Dakota botanists recorded this new weed.
References 8
Deane, G. (2017, September 9). Russian Thistle, Tumbleweed. Eat The Weeds and Other Things, Too. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from http://www.eattheweeds.com/salsola-kali-noxious-weed-nibble-green-2/
National Park Service. (2020, January 30). Russian Thistle White Sands National Park (U.S. National Park Service). National Park Service White Sands National Park New Mexico. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/russian-thistle.htm
USU Extension. (2017). Russian Thistle. Range Plants of Utah. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/forbsherbaceous/RussianThistle
Williams, D. B. (n.d.). Tumbleweed, Russian Thistle. DesertUSA. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.desertusa.com/flowers/tumbleweed.html
About the Author 6
Student author(s)*: Sasha Dobek (2nd grade) from Chinook Spirit Children’s Academy
*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/
Sources and Credits
- (c) chinookspirit, all rights reserved
- (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/74738817@N07/36857662042/
- (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/74738817@N07/36242325246/
- (c) Ferran Turmo Gort, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/fturmog/2006724824/
- (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/74738817@N07/35957049954/
- Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) chinookspirit, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Type | herb |
|---|---|
| Uses | edible |
| Native | no |
| Life cycle | annual |
| Habitat | Dry to Coastal |
| Flower | Greenish to Pinkish-White |
