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Mojave Thistle

Cirsium mohavense (Greene) Petr.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ first year rosettes

▲▼mature, flowering plants

▲▼ plant stems

▲▼ inflorescences/flowers

▲▼ inflorescences/flowers

▲ seed production after flowering

Cirsium mohavense  (Greene) Petr., MojaveThistle: (Bayer Code:  not known; US Code:  CIMO)

·         Southwestern U.S. native perennial or biennial thistle with gray-green to greyish or whitish stems and leaves that grows 1-5 feet tall or more

·         Leaves are lanceolate with unlobed to moderately-lobed leaves that have spiny margins; leaf bases extend partly down the stem, producing spiny, leafy-wings on portions of the stems

·         Head inflorescences are 1-2 inches across, and ray flowers are pale-pink or lavender

·         Base of inflorescence is urn shaped and covered with lanceolate bracts tipped with outwardly-pointing tan or yellow-brown spines

·         Not found in Midwest

This is one of the native thistles that is sometimes mistaken for an invasive thistle species.  Native thistles provide food and nectar for native insects (including bees and butterflies), birds and other animals, and generally should not be killed indiscriminately.  Maintaining proper grazing levels can often reduce their unwanted increase in pastures and rangeland.

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Posted January 24, 2019