Cirsium virginianum
Common names: Virginia Thistle
| Cirsium virginianum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by the Southeastern Flora Plant Database | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida - Dicots |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Cirsium |
| Species: | C. virginianum |
| Binomial name | |
| Cirsium virginianum L | |
| |
| Natural range of Cirsium virginianum from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Contents
Taxonomic Notes
Synonyms: Carduus virginianus Linnaeus, Cirsium revolutum (Small) Petrak.[1]
Varieties: none.[1]
Description
C. virginianum is a biennial forb in the Asteraceae family native to the southeast United States[2] that can reach heights up to 6 feet tall.[3] The stem has white cobweb-like hairs, and leaves are spiny-edged, dissected or uncut, and the underside is white with short dense hairs. The purple or pink flowers occur in dense heads.[4]
Distribution
C. virginianum can be found along the southeast United States, ranging from Texas to New Jersey. However, it is mostly found in the Carolinas [2].
Ecology
Habitat
C. virginianum is listed as a facultative wetland species, but can occasionally can be found in non-wetlands.[2] Habitats include moist to fairly dry pine savannas and bogs[5] such as pine wiregrass or saw palmetto flatwoods, ecotones between upland and streamheads, and ecotones between uplands and pocosins.[4] The species has been observed in to grow in disturbed areas.[6]
Associated species include Hyptis alata, Myrica cerifera var. cerifera, Iva microcephala, Tridens ambiguus, Serenoa repens, Rudbeckia nitida, Galium aparine, Vicia angustifolia, Geranium carolinianum, and Trifolium campestre. [6]
Phenology
C. virginianum typically flowers from August to October [5], but has been observed to flower as early as April [6].
Fire ecology
The species has been observed in to grow in areas that are burned annually [6].
Conservation, cultivation, and restoration
This species is listed as endangered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. It is also considered a noxious weed by the Arkansas State Plant Board and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.[2]
Cultural use
The leaves and stems can be cooked, so keeping it as a potherb is a possibility.[7]
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 USDA Plants Database URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CIVI
- ↑ [[1]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: April 8, 2019
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 [[2]] NatureServe Explorer. Accessed: April 8, 2019
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: May 2018. Collectors: Robert K. Godfrey, R. Komarek, B. A. Sorrie, L. G. Chafin, L. G. Chafin, and C. Pederson. States and Counties: Georgia: Thomas and Worth. Florida: Clay and Escambia.
- ↑ Fernald, et al. 1958. Edible Plants of Eastern North America. Harper and Row Publishers, New York.
