Cirsium arvense

? Cirsium arvense {{{status}}} Fossil range: {{{fossil_range}}}
Plant Info
Common name(s): {{{common_names}}} Growth habit: {{{growth_habit}}} Height: ⇕ {{{high}}} Width: ⇔ {{{wide}}} Lifespan: ⌛ {{{lifespan}}} Exposure: ☼ {{{exposure}}} Water: ☂ {{{water}}} Features: ❀ {{{features}}} Poisonous: ☠ {{{poisonous}}} Hardiness: ❆ {{{hardiness}}} USDA Zones: {{{usda_zones}}} Sunset Zones: {{{sunset_zones}}}
Scientific classification
Domain: {{{domain}}} Superkingdom: {{{superregnum}}} Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: {{{subregnum}}} Superdivision: {{{superdivisio}}} Superphylum: {{{superphylum}}} Division: Magnoliophyta Phylum: {{{phylum}}} Subdivision: {{{subdivisio}}} Subphylum: {{{subphylum}}} Infraphylum: {{{infraphylum}}} Microphylum: {{{microphylum}}} Nanophylum: {{{nanophylum}}} Superclass: {{{superclassis}}} Class: Magnoliopsida Sublass: {{{subclassis}}} Infraclass: {{{infraclassis}}} Superorder: {{{superordo}}} Order: Asterales Suborder: {{{subordo}}} Infraorder: {{{infraordo}}} Superfamily: {{{superfamilia}}} Family: Asteraceae Subfamily: {{{subfamilia}}} Supertribe: {{{supertribus}}} Tribe: {{{tribus}}} Subtribe: {{{subtribus}}} Genus: Cirsium Subgenus: {{{subgenus}}} Section: {{{sectio}}} Series: {{{series}}} Species: C. arvense Subspecies: {{{subspecies}}}
[[{{{diversity_link}}}|Diversity]]
{{{diversity}}}
Binomial name
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.
Trinomial name
{{{trinomial}}}
Type Species
{{{type_species}}}
{{{subdivision_ranks}}}
[[Image:{{{range_map}}}|{{{range_map_width}}}|]]
Synonyms
{{{synonyms}}}

Cirsium arvense, also known as the California Thistle, Canada Thistle, Corn Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Cursed Thistle, Green Thistle, Hard Thistle, Perennial Thistle, Prickly Thistle, Small-flowered Thistle, and Way Thistle, is a very serious invasive species of the genus Cirsium, native throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa. This plant is cited as a noxious weed in several countries; for example Brazil and the United States. It is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959[1].

It is a tall herbaceous perennial plant, forming an extensive underground root system that sends up numerous erect stems each spring, reaching 1-2 m tall; the stems often lie partly flat by summer but can stay erect if supported by other vegetation. The leaves are very spiny, lobed, up to 15-20 cm long and 2-3 cm broad (smaller on the upper part of the flower stem). The inflorescence is 1-2 cm diameter, pink-purple, with all the florets of similar form (no division into disc and ray florets). The seeds are 4-5 mm long, with a downy pappus which assists in wind dispersal.

Creeping Thistle is used as a food plant by the Engrailed, a species of moth.

Several other names have been applied to the species, including Field Thistle, and the very confusing "Canada Thistle" (it is not a native of Canada, being an introduction there).

Edibility

Cirsium species, are, for the most part, edible; however, the leaves are considered bitter and therefore rendered inedible; the taproot is considered the most nutritious. In Scotland (especially Fife) they are considered a delicacy, albeit a somewhat unusual one.

External links

• USDA Plants Profile: Cirsium arvense

50px

Wikibooks' Wikimanual of Gardening has more about this subject:

Cirsium arvense