Cirsium japonicum

Cirsium japonicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Cirsium
Species:	C. japonicum
Binomial name
Cirsium japonicum DC. (1838)
Varieties
Cirsium japonicum f. arakii (Kitam.) Kitam. Cirsium japonicum var. diabolicum (Kitam.) Kadota Cirsium japonicum var. japonicum Cirsium japonicum var. maritimum Konta & Katsuy. Cirsium japonicum var. vestitum Kitam.
Synonyms
Carduus eriophorus Thunb. (1784), nom. illeg., later homonym Carduus japonicus (DC.) Franch. (1883) Cnicus japonicus (DC.) Maxim. (1874)

Cirsium japonicum, commonly known as Japanese thistle, plumed thistle, or sea thistle, is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family, Asteraceae. It is a perennial thistle native to eastern Asia, ranging from Japan to Korea, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Varieties

Five varieties are accepted.

• Cirsium japonicum f. arakii (Kitam.) Kitam. – Japan
• Cirsium japonicum var. diabolicum (Kitam.) Kadota – Japan (Honshu)
• Cirsium japonicum var. japonicum – China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam
• Cirsium japonicum var. maritimum Konta & Katsuy. – Japan (Honshu)
• Cirsium japonicum var. vestitum Kitam. – Japan (Honshu and Shikoku)