Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Campanulids: Asterales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Cirsium arvense
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Canada Thistle at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Cirsium arvense
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 179-25-013:
Carduus arvensis
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
COMMON NAME:
Canada Thistle, Field Thistle
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_ciar4_001_lvd
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_ciar4_009_lvd
)
JK Marlow jkm060712_059
July Tazewell County VA
Roadside
Numerous small heads (0.5"-0.75") in a branched inflorescence, per Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains.
)
JK Marlow jkm060712_060
July Tazewell County VA
Roadside
)
JK Marlow jkm060712_063
July Tazewell County VA
Roadside
)
JK Marlow jkm060712_066
July Tazewell County VA
Roadside
)
JK Marlow s060711_a
July Tazewell County VA
Roadside
)
Leslie Dietz, Bugwood.org bug_1929057
Month Unknown
)
Bruce Ackley, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org bug_5436742
Month Unknown
Lower leaf surfaces are green, per Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5447376
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5450403
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5451379
Month Unknown
Pappus tawny, plumose, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas.
)
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org bug_5515718
Month Unknown
Involucres are smooth or, at most, have minute prickles on outer bracts, per Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains.
COMPARE
involucral bracts of Thistles
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Cirsium arvense
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Cirsium arvense
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 179-25-013:
Carduus arvensis
FAMILY
Asteraceae__
256
Forb
Perennial
Non-native: Europe
Documented growing wild in - NC -
Uncommon (rare in NC Coastal Plain)
Look for it in pastures, disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,
or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Leaf margins spiny
LEAVES:
Simple: Lobed, unlobed and/or dissected
Alternate
FLOWER:
Summer/Fall
Disc: Purplish-pink
Rays: Absent
Bisexual
Inferior ovary
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Achene
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control p301
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide p430
- Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast p393
- Wildflowers in the Field and Forest p024
- Wildflowers of Tennessee p285
- Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians p334
- Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains p184