Yellowspine Thistle

Cirsium ochrocentrum A. Gray

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

rosettes ▲▼

mature, flowering plant ▲

flower close-ups ▲▼

mature plant showing strongly-wavy leaves and long spines▲

▲ mature involucres beginning to shed seed; also showing strong  yellow spines on bracts

Yellowspine Thistle: (pp. 114-114 in Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

·         native biennial or perennial thistle with greenish-gray, hair-covered, very wavy leaves in basal rosette; leaves have long yellow spines on tips

·         flowers large, pink to pinkish-purple, with long, stout yellow spines on involucre bracts

·         found in prairie and range land, disturbed sites; can increase in population in overgrazed areas

·         can distinguish from wavyleaf thistle which has shorter yellow spines on leaves and involucre, and more white hairs on leaves; yellowspine thistle leaves also may be more “folded” than wavyleaf thistle