Cirsium nuttallii

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Cirsium nuttallii
Cirs nutt.jpg
Photo by Matthew Merritt, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae
Genus: Cirsium
Species: C. nuttallii
Binomial name
Cirsium nuttallii
DC.
Ciri nutt dist.jpg
Natural range of Cirsium nuttallii from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Nuttall's thistle

Taxonomic notes

Synonym: Carduus nuttallii (A.P. de Candolle) Pollard

Description

A description of Cirsium nuttallii  is provided in The Flora of North America.

C. nuttallii is a biennial species that develops a deep taproot and basal rosette the first year, then shoots up a single, erect, glabrous stem [1][2]. It can be distinguished from other Cirsium by having branched and many-headed stems[3].

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain in Florida and Georgia, C. nuttallii can be found in loamy sand of pine savannas, Hymenachne depressions, and freshwater marsh banks. It will grow in sunny, open and disturbed habitats such as roadsides, railroad tracks, pastures, levees, highways, and upland fallow fields [1][4]. Soils include loamy sand and sandy loam[4].

Phenology

Cirsium nuttallii can be found flowering May through July with white to pink flowers [1].

Seed bank and germination

It produces a large number of seeds and has been observed to self-sow freely [1][5].

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Cirsium nuttallii at Archbold Biological Station[6]:

Apidae: Apis mellifera, Bombus griseocollis

Halictidae: Halictus poeyi

Megachilidae: Lithurgus gibbosus

Use by animals

The seeds are eaten by birds, but avoids herbivory from deer[7]. It is the larval host to the little metalmark butterfly [8].

Conservation and Management

Global Conservation Status: G5[9].

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 [Native Florida Wildflowers]Accessed:December 7, 2015
  2. [Encyclopedia of Life] Accessed: December 7, 2015
  3. Krings, Alexander, Randy Westbrooks, and Janine Lloyd. “CIRSIUM NUTTALLII (ASTERACEAE: CYNAREAE) NEW TO NORTH CAROLINA AND AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO SOUTHEASTERN CONGENERS”. SIDA, Contributions to Botany 20.2 (2002): 845–848.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, James R. Birkhaulter, D. Burch, Emily Earp, R.K. Godfrey, R. Komarek, Marc Minno, Paul L. Redfearn Jr., Cecil R. Slaughter, L.B. Trott, D.B. Ward. States and Counties: Florida: Brevard, Escambia, Gadsden, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Taylor, Wakulla. Georgia: Grady. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
  5. [Dave's Garden]Accessed: December 7, 2015
  6. Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
  7. [Naturescapes of Beaufort, SC]Accessed: December 7, 2015
  8. [What Florida Native Plant is Blooming Today]Accessed: December 7, 2015
  9. [NatureServe]Accessed: December 7, 2015