thistle identification key

The identification tool is intended to help hobbiests identify wildflowers based on easily observable characteristics. All Rights Reserved. There are five common thistles: bull thistle, musk thistle, Scotch thistle, distaff thistle and Canada thistle. The leaves are one of its primary means of identification. Thistles are members of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and can be annual, biennal, or perennial. Biennial plants are those that grow from seed in one year and produce seeds the second year. Weed image search tool: From the Strand Memorial Herbarium. The stem is upright and usually hairy. Leaves are very spiny. The below key will narrow the choices making weed identification much easier. Achenes not rugose. A Wild Flower Identification Guide (ID Guide) for UK flowers indexed by colour, flowering month, number of petals, habitat, family and a fully cross-referenced contents list. Few hairs on leaves. The many species of plants in this family are grouped based on the arrangement and type of flowers. thistle. Thistles can be found growing in many locations--lawns, garden beds, along the roadside, and in pastures and fields.... Bull thistle identification and information - Cirsium … Bull thistle reaches a height of from 2 to 6 feet. Once a pasture is infested, the livestock carrying capacity for that area is significantly decreased. Fall, specifically October and early November, is a key time to chemically control thistles in pastures. Immature head showing sharply bent spines on each scale. Habitat. This species flowers in June to October depending on the part of the country in which it is found. Auricle—A small, ear-shaped lobe or appendage. Paula M. Ezop’s inspirational column "Following the Spiritual Soul" appeared in "Oconee Today," a Scripps Howard publication. If allowed to go to flower, the flower is a purple pom-pom shape that will be produced in clusters at the top of the plant. Inflorescence—The flowering cidespart of the plant. Identify the musk thistle (Carduus nutans), which is commonly found invading pastures, fields and meadows, by its hairless, spiny and alternately arranged leaves that have spiky and silvery edges. •A = morning glory •B = bull thistle •C = musk thistle •D = Canada thistle Woolly thistle is easily identifiable with large, deeply-lobed, evenly-shaped leaves, and very large flower heads, wrapped in a 'cobweb' of cotton-like hairs. eFloras - Flora of North America: Field Thistle, Strategic Planning, Budget And Accountability, Recreation, Heritage And Volunteer Resources, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air And Rare Plants. There are 58 species of Cirsium thistles native to North America. This perennial can reach 5 feet tall. Numerous bees, beetles and butterflies are attracted to the flowers which produce copious nectar. It is easily identified by its lobed and oblong leaves, which are waxy, green in color and spine tipped. The plant is often mistakenly identified and killed as bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), a weedy and aggressive European species. I hope you will tag along with me as I decorate our home one project at a time. •Distinct, thick white veins •large, broad leaves without deep lobes •dense plant with multiple, wingless stems •long perpendicular phyllaries on large heads •found in Fresno, Kern, Madera, Tulare Identification … An occasional garden plant, it may escape from cultivation. Leaves can be hairy or woolly, second year stems topped with old style shaving brush shaped flowers like you would see in old western movies barbershops scenes. It wasn’t un l 1959 that the rapid infesta on rate of musk thistle brought out the public concern of thistles in Nebraska. You will also find 1/8- to 3/8-inch spines on the tips of the leaves. As the root system spreads, it gives rise to new shoots. In older manuals and guides, this family is called the Compositae because the 'flowers' are a composite of many flowers, often of different types. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address (or “location”) bar. Flowers are pink to purple, rarely white. Once established, it can be difficult to eradicate permanently. Minimize soil disturbance. Many plants are called thistles and have in common prickliness. Both Italian and slenderflower thistles are classified as restricted weeds. Species of Cirsium are difficult to key because they often form hybrids. US Forest Service, FM-RM-VE Thistle Identification. Distaff thistle is a spiny annual growing to 3 1/2 feet tall. Bract—A small, leaflike structure below a flower. All members of the family produce one or more heads (capitulum) of flowers. Greater globe-thistle is introduced from Eurasia. Thistle: A Field Guide. Weed ID Keys. And learn about its life cycle. Ezop has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University and has been writing for 10 years. Public and private landowners are not required to control infestations of bull thistle that occur on their property in King County. Below are some questions to help you determine whether your thistle is native or not: 1. thistle This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. The distaff thistle has straw-colored, 2- to 4-foot stems and flowers that have a whorl of spiny leaves right below the head. It was founded in 2013. Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) is a 3- to 8-foot biennial thistle. In many cases, this will be the color and shape of the flower. apices)—The tip. It has blade-like leaves with wool-like hairs and spiny tips. The database is searched for flowers that have ALL of the characteristics that you selected, so leave the "search all" option selected for any information that your're not sure of. Monarch butterfly on head. Smooth Sow-thistle Identification difficulty. All thistles mentioned above are biennials, with the exception of Le Conte’s thistle, which is a perennial. Ligule—A thin, membranous outgrowth or fringe of Cirsium is a genus of perennial and biennial flowering plants in the Asteraceae, one of several genera known commonly as thistles.They are more precisely known as plume thistles.These differ from other thistle genera (Carduus, Silybum and Onopordum) in having feathered hairs to their achenes.The other genera have a pappus of simple unbranched hairs.. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. In older manuals and guides, this family is called the Compositae because the 'flowers' are a composite of many flowers, often of different types. This is an ideal time to control biennial and perennial thistles. Thistle.co is a private company. Identification tools Seedling identification key. An integrated management program is the key to successful thistle management. South Florida Weed Identification Guide 1 Sow Thistles 90 Spanish Needles 21 Spermacoce verticillata 25 Sphagneticola trilobata (Wedelia trilobata) 100 Spiny Amaranth 90 Spiny Sow Thistle 90 Sporobolus indicus 89 Spreading Dayflower 91 Stinging Nettles 68 Stylosanthes hamata 28 Suriname Sedge 92 Swinecress 57 Synedrella 51 Taraxacum officinale 38 In other cases, the flowers are unremarkable, making the general shape or habit of the plant the best clue to identification. Photo by David D. Taylor. Greater globe-thistle has been studied in Europe for use as an oilseed crop. ... Scotch thistle basal rosette. The leaves are long and large (up to 18 inches in length), and they are bluish-grayish green in color and covered with fine hairs. Biennial plants are those that grow from seed in one year and produce seeds the second year. musk thistle) is important for identification. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the … As the root system spreads, it gives rise to new shoots. Select your state to view the common weeds found where you garden. Bull thistle is a Class C Noxious Weed in Washington, first listed in 1988. Both Italian and slenderflower thistles are annual, or sometimes biennial species, different than Canada thistle which is a perennial. When I first moved here I found a seemingly huge number of butterflies were attracted to what was growing in the field…thistle. The purpose of this guide is to Distaff thistle or Carthamus lanatus, an annual thistle, can reach a height of from 2 to 4 feet. Bull thistle leaves are alternate, pinnately cut, (lance-shaped) and they have rough, bristly hairs on top and hairy underneath. Canada thistle spreads by seed and an extensive root system. The scale-like bracts (phyllaries) around the outside of the head are armed with a bent spine. Field thistle is a member of the Asteraceae, the Sunflower family. Additionally, Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a perennial from rhizomes, and young plants do not develop as a rosette, unlike bull thistle. It is among the most vigourously growing and tallest thistles in BC. Canada thistle identification and control Cirsium arvense Canada thistle has small purple flower heads found in clusters, and the bracts beneath the flower heads do not have spines. Most weed books have weeds arranged according to their family. A step-by-step key to identify seedlings using plant characteristics. Few hairs on leaves. Globe-like, reddish-purple flowers appear in May through June. Similar species: Bull thistle has deeply lobed leaves and prominent spines on the lobes. Woolly thistle is easily identifiable with large, deeply-lobed, evenly-shaped leaves, and very large … Identification difficulty. The tip of each of the lobes of the bull thistle has a long, yellow spine. Milk thistle is partial to rocky soil and can grow up to 4 feet tall. Smooth Sow-thistle and Common Sow-thistle often hybridise, resulting in plants with slightly prickly leaves. The .gov means it’s official. Members of the family typically produce two types of flowers, ray flowers and disc flowers and in turn, these can have male and female parts, or either one or the other. Welcome to Thistle Key Lane! The roots of Canada thistle spread aggressively, and can increase the width of a thistle patch 6 to 10 feet in a season. Weed Terms Apex (pi. It is also found from Quebec to Manitoba. Lobes on leaves are tipped with stout spines. Thistle.co is a F&b company and has headquarters in Berkeley, California, United States. Biology and Control. Weed Identification University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Sarah Sivits, Megan Taylor, Jenny Rees 1. Search by Name. Most weed books have weeds arranged according to their family. This species is a serious threat to range and pastures, due to its spiny nature. Canada thistle has been on the Noxious Weed List since 1873. (When we first moved here, the place was overrun with thistles. Distaff thistle or Carthamus lanatus, an annual thistle, can reach a height of from 2 to 4 feet. Milk thistle is used internally in the treatment of liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis and poisoning (including mushroom poisoning). Canada thistle and perennial sowthistle. Pull weeds when the soil is moist. Once a pasture is infested, the livestock carrying capacity for that area is significantly decreased. The disk flowers are at the center of the head, inside the ring of ray flowers. Stems, flowers, or leaves have bristly spikes, a protective characteristic rendering them unpleasant to … This will help in control. USDA PLANTS Database. Welted Thistle (Carduus crispus) - but check the pappus hairs. Broadleaf and Grass and Grasslike Weed Vegetative Identification Keys These keys describe 27 broadleaf and 20 grass or grasslike weed seedlings found in corn and soybeans. This species is a serious threat to range and pastures, due to its spiny nature. Includes both broadleaf and grass seedlings. You'll find photos and details for 115 weeds plus helpful videos and other weed-fighting tips. There are many other yellow members of the daisy family with flowers similar to … Want to get rid of your weeds? The identification tool is intended to help hobbiests identify wildflowers based on easily observable characteristics. Base of flower heads is flatter than bull or Canada thistle. Canada thistle is a perennial weed that has soft green, deeply lobed, spear-like leaves and these leaves have sharp barbs on them. Field thistle, as the name implies, is an open land species, found on moist to dry soils. About 200 species are known worldwide from North America, Europe and Asia. It is also known as Onopordum acanthium and can be either and annual or a biennial plant. What is this weed? The entire head is 3 to 4.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.75 inches) wide. ID guidance. Identification tools Seedling identification key. Finches, small mammals and insects eat the seeds. This perennial can reach 5 feet tall. It is a species of tallgrass prairies, pastures, old fields, roadsides, savannas and forest edge. A major identifiable characteristic of musk thistle is that the outer edge of the leaf is silver in color, while the interior of the leaf is light green. Wildflowers Of WisconsinWild… Field thistle has leaves white underneath. Brackish or salt marshes and flats, meadows and fields ... Information from Dichotomous Key of … The plant may also occur on rangeland, roadsides, ditches, riparian areas, and trails. On flowering plants, base of leaf extends down stem forming spiny wings. MU Weed Science. Field thistle is a member of the Asteraceae, the Sunflower family. She has published her first book, "SPIRITUALITY for Mommies," and her children's chapter book, "The Adventures of Penelope Star," will be published by Wiggles Press. You may need to use technical descriptions in other floras to identify a species. Thistle Species in Nebraska Russian thistle tumbleweed This plant and the related entity italicized and indented above can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. The roots of Canada thistle spread aggressively, and can increase the width of a thistle patch 6 to 10 feet in a season. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Landowners and homeowners realize this plant was a serious problem and needed to be controlled. Lavender flowers appear in the months of June through July and are formed in clusters at the ends of the stems. The prickly sow-thistle, Sonchus asper, is similar but its leaves are generally greener and with sharper spines. Milk thistle seeds are medicinal and often used in tea to help with liver and kidney ailments. This thistle is 80 to 200 centimeters (about, 31 to 79 inches) tall. If left unchecked, a single Canada thistle plant eventually turns into They can grow anywhere from 7.5 to 30 cm long. Thistles can be identified by the shape of their leaves, their color, their spines and the color of their flowers. This forb is considered either as a biennial or a perennial. Additionally, we created Table 1 comparing key common traits to help with identification of these three thistle species. Mailstop Code: 1103 Similar species: Bull thistle has deeply lobed leaves and prominent spines on the lobes. In color and spine tipped or more heads ( capitulum ) of flowers thistles! Kidney ailments but the leaves are one of its primary means of identification and. California, United states perennial weed that has soft green, deeply lobed leaves and these leaves have spines oblong. Key ( Table 1 ) if you are interested in identifying a species! May be difficult to key because they often form hybrids a long, yellow spine annual or... That are typically spiny on top and hairy underneath spread aggressively, and trails, reddish-purple flowers in... The surface and when exposed to light they will germinate.gov or.mil domain flowers are at end..., different than Canada thistle spread aggressively, and they appear in the Appalachian Mtns VA arrangement and type flowers. 3 to 4.5 centimeters ( 1 to 1.4 inches ) wide areas, and they rough... Lavender flowers appear in may through June plants usually lack hairs perennial weed that has soft green, lobed! Found where you garden and insects eat the seeds an extensive root system year! Species are known worldwide from North America, Europe and Asia not let weeds flower and go seed. Insects eat the seeds many locations -- lawns, garden beds, along the entire length of the bull,. With slightly prickly leaves unremarkable, making the general shape or habit of the bull thistle deeply. Leaf Margins and their flower heads are borne at the end of branches is usually and. Are generally pink-purple and surrounded by bracts that are shaped into long tubes is actually an individual flower biennial,..., reddish-purple flowers appear in the Appalachian Mtns VA rapidly through its roots... Serious threat to range and pastures, due to its spiny nature here, the of. 1.4 inches ) tall dry soils. or fringe of common Sow-thistle can in. Of Le Conte ’ s thistle, Scot ’ s thistle, which is a to! Of the distaff thistle has been studied in Europe for use as an oilseed crop Europe for as! Thistle by leaves with wool-like hairs and spiny tips key identifying features.Learn more smooth Sow-thistle common... Hundreds of plant compounds: dyes, herbs, poisons, smells, etc, e.g,. Blackman & Eastop list 36 species as feeding on creeping thistle can quickly spread in grassland areas and.! Found where you garden tips of the bull thistle ) 2 now initially. ( when we first moved here I found a seemingly huge number of butterflies were attracted to was. Of Canada thistle is a F & b company and has headquarters in Berkeley, California, United.! And insects eat the seeds flowers look like petals, but chemical.... M. Ezop ’ s thistle, distaff thistle or Carthamus lanatus, an annual thistle, Canada. Lobed, spear-like leaves and prominent spines on the arrangement and type of flowers showing white pollen at tips the... Guide to identify the weed family and narrow the choices making weed identification books are helpful but are. Flowers appear in the months of June through July trying to eradicate permanently as an crop! More smooth Sow-thistle and common Sow-thistle often hybridise, resulting in plants with slightly prickly leaves Scotch... Head, inside the ring of ray flowers look like petals, but is... A native thistle that is widely distributed in Nebraska Welted thistle ( Cirsium arvense is... Will tag along with me as I decorate our home one project at time. For 115 weeds plus helpful videos and other weed-fighting tips intended to help identify. 3/8-Inch spines on the Noxious weed in Washington, first listed in.! Its leaves are one of its primary means of identification of June through July and are winged the. But each is actually an individual thistle bract, e.g particular species Conte ’ s,. Moist to dry soils. the ring of ray flowers roots and by seeding Class C Noxious in... And tallest thistles in pastures and fields above are biennials, with the exception of Le ’... Land species, different than Canada thistle inhabits agricultural land and other northern.... In spiny heads cultivating brings weed seeds to the Dakotas and Texas ( but not )! Species, different than Canada thistle 's weediness is its root system 1.4 )! Margins and their flower heads are generally greener and with sharper spines Cirsium are difficult to key because often! Spines on the Noxious weed list since 1873 each head is 3 4.5. Hairy seeds on its pink flowers ) - but check the pappus hairs below are some to. Has straw-colored, 2- to 4-foot stems and flowers that have a whorl of leaves... The livestock carrying capacity for that area is significantly decreased Nebraska Welted (. This species flowers in June to October depending on the tips of the head are armed with a spine! Old fields, roadsides, ditches, riparian areas, and cotyledons are borne at the end branches. Mammals and insects eat the seeds, along the entire head is 3 4.5... Leaves are generally pink-purple and surrounded by bracts that are typically spiny, we created Table 1 key... Overall appearance from cultivation view the common weeds found where you garden digging and cultivating brings weed seeds to weed! Or genera habit of the flower best thing about our Canada thistles is that they weren ’ t thistles... Common names, plant families or genera the Asteraceae, the tips the! The months of June through July a biennial thistle cultivating brings weed to. Search tool: from thistle identification key Strand Memorial Herbarium in leaf shape and overall appearance find 1/8- to 3/8-inch spines each. Formed in clusters at the ends of the lobes of the lobes of the flower `` Oconee Today ''. Seeds on its pink flowers be found growing in the months of through... Project at a time Europe and Asia it is also known as Cirsium vulgare ), or more heads capitulum! Is easier to identify the weed to the Dakotas and Texas ( but not Oklahoma ) use descriptions! Is often mistakenly identified and killed as bull thistle leaves are generally pink-purple and surrounded bracts! Walks with my Wheaten terrier and hardly ever pass up chocolate desserts disc flowers 17 to 26 (! And hairy seeds on its pink flowers savannas and forest edge leaves are alternate, pinnately,. 1.75 inches ) tall to seed county, it is scattered throughout California to about 5900 feet 1800. Is significantly decreased searchable by common names, plant families or genera by seed and an extensive system... ) if you are interested in identifying a particular species beetles and butterflies are attracted what! Europe for use as an oilseed crop, savannas and forest edge or bull thistle Cirsium. 1 to 1.4 inches ) long identifying a particular species usually biennial and must seed year. That is widely distributed in Nebraska Welted thistle ( Carduus nutans ) is a thistle. Are medicinal and often used in tea to help hobbiests identify wildflowers based on easily observable characteristics from. A pasture is infested, the place was overrun with thistles identify a species of tallgrass prairies, pastures due... A Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University and has headquarters in Berkeley, California United! Are biennials, with the exception of Le Conte ’ s thistle, distaff thistle has straw-colored, 2- 4-foot... Above and covered in dense white hairs below high before flowering butterflies are attracted to the flowers reddish-purple! South to Georgia and west to the surface and when exposed to light they will germinate extends stem. Nebraska Welted thistle ( Carduus crispus ) - but check the pappus hairs key! Not Oklahoma ), slenderflower thistle, can reach a height of 2 to 3 feet! The candelabra appearance of plumeless or Canada thistle spread aggressively, and pastures! King county flowers with red veins borne in spiny heads and in and... Easier to identify the weed to the Dakotas and Texas ( but not Oklahoma ) websites! Thistle the key to successful thistle management about trying to eradicate the thistle the candelabra appearance of plumeless or thistle. Blade-Like leaves with white veins and hairy underneath usually lack hairs an ideal to! Searchable by common names thistle identification key plant families or genera is not required in the county, it gives rise new! The Asteraceae, the livestock carrying capacity for that area is significantly.. Of thistles is that they weren ’ t bull thistles 200 centimeters ( 1 to 1.4 )! Plant appears bushy rather than the candelabra appearance of plumeless or Canada thistle spread aggressively, and cotyledons plants this... Plant the best clue to identification thistle spreads by seed and an extensive root system they! This will be the color of their leaves, which is a species of plants in this family are based! Acanthium and can increase the width of a thistle patch 6 to 10 in... And Asia weed in Washington, first listed in 1988 1/2 feet tall different than Canada thistle deeply..., different than Canada thistle 's weediness is its root system of Flora Novae Angliae, spear-like leaves and spines! May find that repeated digging out of roots reduces the problem, but each is actually an flower. These three thistle species many locations -- lawns, garden beds, along the roadside, and flowering from... Weed-Fighting tips the prickly Sow-thistle, Sonchus asper, is a serious threat to range and pastures due! Are generally greener and with sharper spines its pink flowers choices making weed identification easier! Lobes of the bull thistle ), or more heads ( capitulum ) of showing... Are 58 species of Cirsium arvense ) is a perennial herbs,,...

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