Slender thistle (Carduus tenuiflorus)
- This is a coastal thistle which is very specific to the Cowbar cliff top. It can be spotted in the grassland and beside the Cleveland Way path. It flowers from June to August.
- It also grows on upper shores, sea walls and dry ground around the UK coast.
- It is tall, thin and greyish green – definitely ‘slender’ looking, with spiny, branched stems.
- Other popular names include names slender-flower thistle, sheep thistle, shore thistle, winged plumeless thistle, winged slender thistle and winged thistle
- Slender thistles are spread by the seeds acting as small parachutes. Slender thistle seeds can be carried more than 100 metres by wind.
- Seed can also be dispersed by animals, especially on the wool of sheep. Several birds, notably goldfinches, eat slender thistle seeds and the seed may be deposited with the faeces and germinate.
- Bees and butterflies are attracted to this plant and goldfinch on Cowbar can be seen in large flocks in the autumn when thistle seeds are ready.
- All thistles in the genus Cirsium, and the genus Carduus, are edible. The leaves are still edible if you strip them of spines and so are the bottom of the flower buds. All can be eaten raw, steamed or boiled. (Or roast whole and squeeze the cooked core out.)
