Carduus tenuiflorus

Carduus tenuiflorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Cynareae
Genus:	Carduus
Species:	C. tenuiflorus
Binomial name
Carduus tenuiflorus Curtis

Carduus tenuiflorus (known variously as sheep thistle, shore thistle, slender thistle, slender-flower thistle, winged slender thistle, and winged thistle) is a species of thistle. It is native to Europe and North Africa but is well-known on other continents where it is an introduced species and noxious weed. This thistle may exceed two meters in height. Its tall stem is ridged with wings and has long spines which may be several centimeters in length. The dull olive-green leaves are lobed and wrinkled and may fold and crease themselves. The inflorescences may hold up to 20 flower heads which are somewhat rounded, covered in wide, spiny phyllaries, and packed with pale pink to bright purple long-tubed disc florets. This is a tenacious weed of roadsides, fields, and disturbed areas.

Distribution

Carduus tenuiflorus is native to northern Africa (in northern Algeria; Morocco; and Tunisa) and Europe (in Belgium; France, including Corsica; Ireland; Italy, including Sardinia; the Netherlands; Portugal, including the Madeira Islands; Spain, including the Baleares and Canary Islands; Switzerland; and the United Kingdom.

It has become naturalised in the Azores and elsewhere.

References and external links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Photo gallery