SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 10563.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "10563" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

mountain slope thistle

Scientific Name: Cirsium scapanolepis

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Cirsium scapanolepis - Mountain Slope Thistle

Cirsium scapanolepis, commonly known as Mountain Slope Thistle, is a forb/herb belonging to the genus Cirsium. Other common names include mountain thistle.

Considerations for Pets

  • Thistles, in general, are known for their prickly nature.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cirsium scapanolepis Petr.
  • Common Name: Mountain Slope Thistle
  • Family: Not explicitly mentioned, but implied to be Asteraceae based on the genus Cirsium.
  • Synonyms: The text implies the existence of synonyms but doesn't list them explicitly for Cirsium scapanolepis.

Distribution and Habitat

  • This thistle is found on open slopes, roadbanks, and roadsides in Colorado, specifically in mountain meadows and along streamsides.
  • Also found on shaley slopes in pinyon-juniper zones at elevations of 5,900-8,000 feet.
  • It thrives on rocky and gravelly slopes on the sunny side of mountains in alpine and subalpine zones.

Morphological Characteristics

  • The text describes thistles in general as having "effusive flower heads, usually purple, rose, or pink."
  • It is described as a forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).

Traditional Uses

  • Historically, thistles were considered a remedy for swollen veins (the word "Ciros" means swollen vein).

Quirky Facts

  • The text mentions golf courses named after or featuring the thistle.

Related Species

  • The text also mentions other Cirsium species, including:
    • Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle, common thistle, or spear thistle)
    • Cirsium scariosum (Meadow Thistle)
    • Cirsium scopulorum (Mountain Thistle)
    • Cirsium spinosissimum (Yellow Thistle)
    • Cirsium clavatum (Fish Lake thistle)
    • Cirsium acarna (Soldier Thistle)
    • Cirsium acaule (Stemless Thistle, Dwarf Thistle)
    • Cirsium hydrophilum (Suisun Thistle)

Additional Notes

  • Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle, common thistle, or spear thistle) is listed as a noxious weed.

Further Information

  • Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cirsium scapanolepis.