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.

Carduus tenuiflorus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Carduus
Species:
C. tenuiflorus
Binomial name
Carduus tenuiflorus

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
  1.  Carduus tenuiflorus was first described and published in Flora Londinensis 2(6): t. 55 (168,169). 1793. "Carduus tenuiflorus". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  2. USDA
  3. Cal-IPC (California Invasisive Plant Council): Carduus tenuiflorus . accessed 4.8.2013
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