Carduus tenuiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is known variously as slender-flower thistle,[1] sheep thistle,[1] shore thistle,[1] slender thistle,[1] winged plumeless thistle,[2] winged slender thistle[1] and winged thistle.[1] It is native to western Europe and Northwest Africa, and is an introduced species elsewhere.
| Carduus tenuiflorus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Carduus |
| Species: | C. tenuiflorus
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| Binomial name | |
| Carduus tenuiflorus | |
Description
editCarduus tenuiflorus may exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. Its tall stem is ridged with wings and has long spines which may be several centimeters in length. The dull olive-green leaves are lobed and wrinkled and may fold and crease themselves.[citation needed]
The inflorescences may hold up to 20 flower heads which are somewhat rounded, covered in wide, spiny phyllaries, and packed with pale pink to bright purple long-tubed disc florets. This is a tenacious weed of roadsides, fields, and disturbed areas.
Distribution
editCarduus tenuiflorus is native to western North Africa in: northern Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia; Macaronesia; and much of western Europe in: Belgium, France, including Corsica, Ireland, Italy including Sardinia and Sicily, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain including the Balearic Islands, and the United Kingdom.[1][3][4]
Introduced species
editIt has become naturalised in South Africa, India, Australasia, Southern South America, regions of the United States, and elsewhere.[1] It is an invasive species in California.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Carduus tenuiflorus was first described and published in Flora Londinensis 2(6): t. 55 (168,169). 1793. "Carduus tenuiflorus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ USDA
- ^ "Carduus tenuiflorus Curtis". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "Carduus tenuiflorus". worldplants.de. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Cal-IPC (California Invasisive Plant Council): Carduus tenuiflorus. accessed 4.8.2013
External links
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Media related to Carduus tenuiflorus at Wikimedia Commons- Jepson Manual Treatment
- Carduus tenuiflorus — CalPhoto gallery
