Cirsium undulatum

Cirsium undulatum is a species of thistle known by the common names wavyleaf thistle and gray thistle.[2] It is native to much of central and western North America from British Columbia east to Manitoba and south as far as the State of Durango in Mexico. It has also been found outside of its native range as an introduced species.[3][4]

Cirsium undulatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Cirsium
Species:
C. undulatum
Binomial name
Cirsium undulatum
Synonyms[1]
  • Carduus megacephalus A.Nelson
  • Carduus undulatus Nutt.
  • Cirsium megacephalum (A.Gray) Cockerell ex Daniels
  • Cnicus undulatus (Nutt.) A.Gray

Cirsium undulatum is widespread and found in many habitat types. It is a perennial herb exceeding 200 cm (79 in) in height. The stem branches a few times toward the top of the plant if at all. The leaves are very wavy along the edges and usually cut into shallow toothed lobes. The longest near the base of the plant are up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) long. The inflorescence holds one or more flower heads each up to 5 centimetres (2.0 inches) long and wide. The head is lined with spiny phyllaries of different shapes. The flowers in the head are white to lavender to pink and up to 5 centimetres (2.0 inches) long. The fruit is an achene a few millimeters long with a pappus which may be up to 4 centimeters in length.[4][5]

Cirsium undulatum has been shown to have its seed production reduced by an exotic weevil Larinus planus which was released to control canada thistle.[6]

References
  1. The Plant List, Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng.
  2. Calflora taxon report, University of California, Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng., wavy leaved thistle, wavyleaf thistle
  3. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  4. Flora of North America, Cirsium undulatum
  5. United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
  6. Louda, Svaa M.; O'Brien, Charles W. (June 2002). "Unexpected Ecological Effects of Distributing the Exotic Weevil, Larinus planus (F.), for the Biological Control of Canada Thistle" (PDF). Conservation Biology. 16 (3): 717–727. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.00541.x.


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