*Cirsium arvense (Linnaeus) Scopoli. Common name: Canada Thistle, Field Thistle. Phenology: Jul-Nov. Habitat: Pastures, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Eurasia.
Origin/Endemic status: Europe
Taxonomy Comments: Two varieties are often recognized: var. arvense, with leaves shallowly undulate-lobed and with only a few fine marginal prickles, and var. horridum, with leaves strongly sinuate-pinnatifid and with numerous well-developed marginal prickles.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, FNA19, GrPl, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, S, Tn, Va, W; = Breea arvense (L.) Less.; = Carduus arvensis (L.) Robson — RAB; > Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. var. arvense — C, F, G, Il, Oh3, POWO, SE1, Tat; > Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. var. horridum Wimm. & Gräbner — C, G, Il, Oh3, SE1; > Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. var. integrifolium Wimm. & Graebn. — F, Tat; > Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. var. mite Wimm. & Gräbner — F; > Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. var. vestitum Wimm. & Graebn. — F
Links to other floras: = Cirsium arvense - FNA19
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, colonial perennial of pastures and other disturbed areas. Native of Europe.
Stems: Stems slightly ridged, branched above, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile or clasping, elliptic or lance-shaped, 3-7 in. long, pinnately lobed or toothed, bearing yellow spines on the margins, glossy green, sometimes hairy beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) 1-many at top of stem, pale-pink or lavender, 1/2-3/4 in. wide, consisting of many disk florets, each with 5 thread-like lobes. Close-pressed, sharp-tipped, green to purple bracts surround the urn-shaped base of each head.
Fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of seeds, each with a tuft of tawny hairs.
Comments:
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, colonial perennial of pastures and other disturbed areas. Native of Europe.
stems: Stems slightly ridged, branched above, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile or clasping, elliptic or lance-shaped, 3-7 in. long, pinnately lobed or toothed, bearing yellow spines on the margins, glossy green, sometimes hairy beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) 1-many at top of stem, pale-pink or lavender, 1/2-3/4 in. wide, consisting of many disk florets, each with 5 thread-like lobes. Close-pressed, sharp-tipped, green to purple bracts surround the urn-shaped base of each head.
fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of seeds, each with a tuft of tawny hairs.
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