Field Thistle

Cirsium discolor L.

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

▲ young plant

▲ young plant showing leaf underside (whitish)

▲ bolting plants

▲ stem and leaves

▲▼ flowering plants

▲ flower bud

▲▼ flower, with many narrow leaf-like bracts around inflorescence

Field Thistle: (Not in Weeds of the Great Plains, nor  Weeds of the Northeast)

·         biennial or simple perennial weed common in southwest Missouri; similar to bull thistle except leaf undersides are white

·         leaf bases do not extend down the stems as with bull thistles

·         grows 2-5' tall, leaves deeply lobed with slender lobes ending in spines

·         flowers purple; flower bracts similar to tall thistle, except they stand out from inflorescence more

·         found in pastures, non-crop areas; prefers moister soils