Marsh Thistle

This one's stem, at the base, was about 1-1.5cm diametre. The shoots leading to the flowers were fiddly to strip of the spine but were sweet and not too stringy (I didn't strip the stringy outer layer because that was too difficult). The stem was almost impossible to strip the stringy outer layer without also cutting the inner pith and what 'reward' was left was still stringy and astringent. definitely not worth trying this way. One way I found was a bit better was to cut down the stem and 'open it out' then make a fold across the stem. This could then be chewed and it yielded quite a nice tasting sweet and watery taste.