CIRSIUM VULGARE

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. CIRSIUM

Common Name:- Spear thistle

Synonyms:- Carduus spinosissimus, Carduus vulgaris, Epitrachys vulgaris.

Meaning:- Cirsium (Gr) The ancient Greek name for thistle.

Vulgare (L) Vulgar, common.

General description:- Biennial or short-lived perennial.

Stem:-

1) Usually 60-100 cm tall, sparsely arachnoid-tomentose, branched above, with

spiny wings.

Leaves:-

1) Decurrent for the whole internode, or the upper less so, sparsely arachnoid-

hairy to -tomentose beneath.

2) Lobes narrowly lanceolate or narrowly triangular to elliptic-lanceolate, with weak

a to strong apical spine 2-10(-15) mm.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula shortly to long-pedunculate, in a panicle or corymb, usually without

subtending leaves.

2) Involucre (25-)30-40 X 20-40 mm, sparsely arachnoid-hairy to -lanate, rarely

subglabrous.

3) Bracts gradually narrowed into the pungent apical spine 2-3·5 mm.

4) Corolla 26-36 mm, purple.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes c. 3.5 mm.

2) Pappus up to 30 mm.

Key features:-

1) Leaves with rigid, rather pungent setae on the upper surface.

2) Stem winged.

3) Lower and middle cauline leaves decurrent for the whole internode

4) Involucre(25-)30-40 X 20-40 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Seasonally damp meadows, forest clearings, ruderal habitats. 0-900 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece especially in the N and C Mainland. A

widespread and variable Euro-Siberian species introduced into temperate areas

elsewhere. Rare on Crete and until recently known only from a few locations in the

west.

Recorded by M. Gogolos from Kounaviano gorge C. Crete. (2017)

Flowering time:- End of May to Sept.

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos