Cirsium vulgare
Cirsium vulgare | |
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Plant in flower, Fossoy, Aisne, France | |
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Species: | C. vulgare
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Binomial name | |
Cirsium vulgare |
Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle) is a species of the genus Cirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains).[1][2][3] It is also naturalised in North America and Australia and is as an invasive weed in some areas.
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Cirsium_vulgare%2C_pappus%2C_speerdistel.jpg/220px-Cirsium_vulgare%2C_pappus%2C_speerdistel.jpg)
It is a tall biennial or short-lived monocarpic thistle, forming a rosette of leaves and a taproot up to 70 cm long in the first year, and a flowering stem 1–1.5 m tall in the second (rarely third or fourth) year. The stem is winged, with numerous longitudinal spine-tipped wings along its full length. The leaves are stoutly spined, grey-green, deeply lobed; the basal leaves up to 15–25 cm long, with smaller leaves on the upper part of the flower stem; the leaf lobes are spear-shaped (from which the English name derives). The inflorescence is 2.5–5 cm diameter, pink-purple, with all the florets of similar form (no division into disc and ray florets). The seeds are 5 mm long, with a downy pappus, which assists in wind dispersal. As in other species of Cirsium (but unlike species in the related genus Carduus), the pappus hairs are feathery with fine side hairs.[1][4][5]
Ecology
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Cirsium_vulgare_Bombus.jpg/220px-Cirsium_vulgare_Bombus.jpg)
Spear Thistle is often a ruderal species, colonising bare disturbed ground, but also persists well on heavily grazed land as it is unpalatable to most grazing animals.[5] The flowers are a rich nectar source used by numerous pollinating insects, including Honey bees, Wool-carder bees, and many butterflies.[6] The seeds are eaten by Goldfinches, Linnets and Greenfinches.[7] The seeds are dispersed by wind, mud, water, and possibly also by ants; they do not show significant long-term dormancy, most germinating soon after dispersal and only a few lasting up to four years in the soil seed bank.[8] Seed is also often spread by human activity such as hay bales.[5]
Cirsium vulgare as a weed
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Cirsium_vulgare_flower.jpg/220px-Cirsium_vulgare_flower.jpg)
Spear Thistle is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959,[9] and a noxious weed in Australia[8][10][11] and in nine US states.[12] Spread is only by seed, not by root fragments as in the related Creeping Thistle C. arvense. It is best cleared from land by hoeing and deep cutting of the taproot before seeds mature; regular cultivation also prevents its establishment.[5]
Synonymy and other names
Synonyms include Carduus vulgaris Savi (basionym), Carduus lanceolatus L., Cirsium lanceolatum (L.) Scop. (non Hill), Cirsium balearicum Willk., Cirsium linkii Nyman, Cnicus lanceolatus (L.) Willd., Cirsium microcephalum sensu Lange, non Moris, Cirsium crinitum Boiss. ex DC., and Cirsium strigosum (Hoffmanns. & Link) Cout.[2] Other English names include bull thistle,[5][13], Scots,[14], Scottish or Scotch thistle and common thistle.[13]
References
- ^ a b Interactive Flora of NW Europe: Cirsium vulgare
- ^ a b Flora Europaea: Cirsium vulgare
- ^ Den Virtuella Floran: Cirsium vulgare (in Swedish, with maps)
- ^ Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
- ^ a b c d e Bond, W., Davies, G., & Turner, R. J. (2007). The biology and non-chemical control Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). 6pp. HDRA the organic organisation. Fulltext
- ^ "Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten". Department of Environment and Conservation. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Spear thistle - Cirsium vulgare". Natural England. The Plant Press. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Spear thistle". Weed Australia. Australian Weeds Committee National Initiative. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ Defra, UK - Farming - Wildlife and plants Ragwort and injurious weeds
- ^ "Spear Thistle". Department of Primary Industries. Victorian Government. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Declared Plant Policy" (PDF). Primary Industries and Resources SA. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "USDA PLANTS Profile for Cirsium vulgare". USDA Plant Database. USDA. unknown. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
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(help) - ^ a b United States Department of Agriculture: Taxonomy for Plants
- ^ David A. Norton, Amy Leighton and Hilary Phipps: Otamahua/Quail Island Restoration Plan, p 75
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