Carduus tenuiflorus
Carduus tenuiflorus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Carduus |
Species: | C. tenuiflorus
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Binomial name | |
Carduus tenuiflorus |
Carduus tenuiflorus, known variously as slender-flower thistle,[1] sheep thistle,[1] shore thistle,[1] slender thistle,[1] winged plumeless thistle,[2] winged slender thistle,[1] and winged thistle[1]) is a species of thistle.
It is native to Europe and North Africa. It is well known on other continents, where it is an introduced species and noxious weed.
Distribution
Carduus tenuiflorus is native to western North Africa in: northern Algeria; Morocco; and Tunisia, and much of Europe in: Belgium; France, including Corsica; Ireland; Italy, including Sardinia and Sicily; the Netherlands; Portugal, Spain, including the Baleares (Balearic Islands); and the United Kingdom.[1]
Description
Carduus tenuiflorus may exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) 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.
Introduced species
It has become naturalised in Macaronesia, South Africa, India, Australasia, Southern South America, regions of the United States, and elsewhere.[1] It is an invasive species in California.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Carduus tenuiflorus was first described and published in Flora Londinensis 2(6): t. 55 (168,169). 1793. "Carduus tenuiflorus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ USDA
- ^ Cal-IPC (California Invasisive Plant Council): Carduus tenuiflorus . accessed 4.8.2013
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Carduus
- Flora of France
- Flora of Europe
- Flora of North Africa
- Plants described in 1793
- Flora of Algeria
- Flora of Belgium
- Flora of Corsica
- Flora of Ireland
- Flora of Italy
- Flora of Sardinia
- Flora of Sicily
- Flora of Morocco
- Flora of the Netherlands
- Flora of Portugal
- Flora of Spain
- Flora of the Balearic Islands
- Flora of Tunisia
- Flora of the United Kingdom