| spiny plumeless thistle |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: CAAC USDA ARS GRIN: 104108 ITIS: 35785 NAPIS: PBFAQBA |
| Carduus acanthoides L. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae |
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| Synonym(s): plumeless thistle | |
Spiny plumeless thistle is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant that grows to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. It is an invader of pastures and other disturbed areas throughout parts of the western, central, and northeastern United States, as well as southern Canada. Flowering occurs from May to August. The flower heads are red to purple in color and up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter. Flower stems are branched with spiny wings extending to the flower heads. Hybridization with musk thistle (C. nutans) has been observed. Spiny plumeless thistle infests open, disturbed areas such as pastures, roadsides, and railroad right-of-ways. It can form dense stands that reduce the forage potential of pastures and suppress the growth of more desirable vegetation. Spiny plumeless thistle is native to Europe and Asia and was first discovered in the United States in Camden, New Jersey in 1878. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Carduus acanthoides - Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Arizona Noxious Weeds
- California Invasive Plant Council
- California Noxious Weeds
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Idaho Noxious Weeds
- Maryland Noxious Weeds
- Michigan Noxious Weeds
- Minnesota Noxious Weeds
- North Carolina Noxious Weeds Class B
- Nebraska Noxious Weeds
- Oregon Noxious Weeds
- South Dakota Noxious Weeds
- Washington Noxious Weeds
- West Virginia Noxious Weeds
- Wyoming Noxious Weeds
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