Flodman Thistle

Cirsium flodmanii (Rydb.) Arthur

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

basal rosette leaves ▲

mature, flowering plants ▲▼

stems and leaves ▲

flowers ▲▼

·         Flodman Thistle:  (pp. 112-113 in Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

o   Leaves are gray-green, hairy, slender and usually deeply lobed, with spines on the lobes

o   May be biennial or short-lived perennial, growing 2-4 feet tall

o   Flowers are pinkish-purple, 1-1.5 inches across, with slender spines from bracts

o   Stems often branched higher up, and are white-hairy

o   Native to north central states, prairies; not grazed by livestock

o   Not usually a weed of great concern