Sow thistle on grass verge

Field sow thistles are edible and have had lots of medicinal uses in history. The native american Cherokee tribe drank an infusion made from this plant which acted as a sedative to calm their nerves. It can delay menstruation, be a treatment for diarrhoea and the latex in the sap can be applied to skin to treat warts.

Sow thistles can disperse up to 13,000 airborne seeds which can stay viable for up to six years.