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plumeless thistle
Scientific Name: Carduus
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Spiny Plumeless Thistle (Carduus acanthoides)
Carduus acanthoides, commonly known as the spiny plumeless thistle, welted thistle, or simply plumeless thistle, is a biennial plant recognized as an invasive species in several regions.
Considerations for Pets
- The stem and foliage are spiny, which could pose a physical hazard to animals.
Considerations for Children
- The plant has spiny stems and foliage, potentially causing injury.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Carduus acanthoides L.
- Family: Asteraceae (also known as Compositae or Sunflower Family)
- Common Names: Spiny plumeless thistle, welted thistle, plumeless thistle, bristly thistle
- Belongs to the genus Carduus, considered one of the "true thistles."
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to Europe and temperate Asia.
- Found in the Northeast, Midwest, and many western states (excluding Oregon, Nevada, and Utah).
- Also found in eastern North Dakota and western Virginia.
- Habitat includes pastures, meadows, fields, highway median strips, and roadsides.
Ecological Role
- Considered a prohibited noxious weed in Minnesota.
- An invasive species that can form weedy, monotypic stands.
- Crowds out desirable forage plants in pastures and meadows.
- Livestock tend to avoid grazing in heavily infested areas.
Morphological Characteristics
- Biennial forb (can also behave as a winter annual).
- Grows to a height of 3-10 dm (approximately 1-4 feet), sometimes exceeding 2 meters (6.5 feet).
- Possesses a stout, fleshy taproot.
- Stems are freely branching and have spiny wings extending to the flower heads.
- Leaves are wavy and have spiny bracts.
- Distinguished from musk thistle by leaf-like spines on the stem and hairs on the underside of the leaf.
- Purple flower heads are approximately 1 inch in diameter with spreading spiny bracts.
- Abundant upper branching gives a "top heavy" appearance to mature plants.
Life Cycle
- Winter annual or biennial.
- Reproduces only by seed.
- Flowering occurs from June to August.
- Seed germination typically occurs in summer and fall, with the plant overwintering as a rosette.
- A single plant can produce up to 120,000 seeds.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Hybridizes with other species.
- Research has been conducted on biological control agents.
Further Information
- Minnesota Noxious Weed Law: MN Statues 18.76-18.91.
- Nebraska Weed Control Association: Provides detailed information on Plumeless Thistle.