Carthamus lanatus

Carthamus lanatus is a species of thistle known as woolly distaff thistle,[1] downy safflower[2] or saffron thistle. It is closely related to safflower, which is in the same genus. This annual plant is a native of the Mediterranean Basin, but it is familiar in other places where it was introduced and has become a noxious weed, such as in parts of North America and southern Australia [3] with similar climates. This is a spiny, glandular, woolly plant, which often looks like it is covered in spiderweb due to its fine tangled fibers. It has a pale stem which may reach a meter in height, and rigid, pointed, very spiny leaves. The flower head has many long, sharp phyllaries that can be up to several centimeters long, and often bend backwards (recurved). The disc florets are bright yellow. One plant can produce many stems which mat together due to their spininess and form a small thicket. The fruit is an achene about half a centimeter long with many rigid pappus scales.

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

Carthamus baeticus

Detrimental

In Australia the plant is commonly regarded as a pasture weed because: it competes with desired plants such as pasture or crops, seeds and bracts become embedded in wool which results in lower returns to farmers, and because dense infestations restrict stock access and are difficult to walk through. It is generally not considered a weed in much of Europe.[4]

Population biology

Seed germination is stimulated by red light.[5] This means that germination is most likely in areas with little vegetation or pasture cover, e.g. when an area has been overgrazed. Seeds also require specific temperature cues and water, which means that most seeds germinate in Autumn (Fall). There are more C. lanatus seeds in the soil in Australian pastures than in similar French pastures, probably because there are more seed predators capable of removing seeds of this size in France than in Australia.[4] Many C. lanatus seeds are dormant (will not germinate, even in ideal conditions), and seedbanks decrease by approximately 70-74% per year if no seed is added.[6]

Weed management

This plant can be controlled using a range of herbicides.[7] Several biological control options have been investigated for Australia, including classical biological control, although finding an insect or fungus that will not also attach safflower has proven difficult. A rosette-feeding fly Botanophila turcica shows some promise.[8] The potential for using pathogens already present in Australia has also been investigated.[9]

In pastures, good pasture cover in Autumn will reduce germination,[10] suggesting that pastures should be managed to reduce grazing pressure over summer increase the cover from summer-growing perennial grasses. Population models suggest that strategic grazing may be one of the most effective long-term control option for infested pastures.[11]

References
  1. "Carthamus lanatus". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. Parsons & Cuthbertson 1992. Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata, Melbourne
  4. Grace et al. 2002. Proceedings 13th Australian Weeds Conference, pp 529-532
  5. Wright et al. 1980. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 7: 587-594
  6. Grace et al. 2002. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53:1327-1334
  7. Peirce JR 1995. Carthamus lanatus In: Biology of Australian Weeds, RG&FJ Richardson pubs, Melbourne
  8. Sheppard & Vitou 2000 Acta Oecologia 21(6):1-11
  9. Crump et al. 1996. Australasian Plant Pathology 25:143
  10. Grace et al. 2002. The Rangeland Journal 24:313-325
  11. Grace 2001. PhD Thesis, University of New England, Australia
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