Common Name: bull thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore, syn. Carduus vulgare
Family Name: Asteraceae (Compositae) - Aster or Sunflower Family

Identification Notes:

life cycle - biennial, reproducing by seed

stems - upright, branching, spiny, hairy; appear winged as leaf base continues down stem growth habit 1, growth habit 2, stems, seedling 1, seedling 2

leaves - alternate, lanceolate, coarse hairs above, fine hairs below; deep cut margins, lobes with stiff spines, some lobes at right angles to leaf leaves

flower - heads of reddish-purple disk (tubulate) florets; spiny tipped bracts; terminal, solitary or clustered flower heads 1, flower heads 2

Images:

Click to enlarge		Click to enlarge		Click to enlarge		Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge		Click to enlarge		Click to enlarge		Click to enlarge

Return to weed index sorted by: Common Name | Scientific Name | Family Name