edible thistle
Asteraceae

edible thistle

Cirsium macounii (Greene) Rydb.

Indigenous Names: Heshko-vo?estse
Habitat: Prairies
Seasonality: Not specified
Status: Native

Traditional Food Use

Cheyenne

Young, peeled stems eaten raw as a "luxury food" Additional commentary: The Cheyenne, according to Grinnell, would travel to the Big Horn Mountains to harvest the stems of the thistle (C. edule), which they considered a luxury food. The thistle was once used as food in a Sun Dance.208

Botanical Reference

Parts Documented: young_stems