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Weed Seed: Carduus acanthoides (Spiny plumeless thistle)

Family

Asteraceae

Common Name

Spiny plumeless thistle

Regulation

Primary Noxious, Class 2 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act.

Distribution

Canadian: Occurs in BC, NS, ON, and QC and ephemeral in NB and NL (Brouillet et al. 2016Footnote 1).

Worldwide: Native to northern Africa, temperate Asia, and most of Europe. Introduced to North America, Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, and beyond its native range in Europe (USDA-ARS 2016Footnote 2). Occurs across the continental United States, with the exception of some southwestern and southeastern states (Kartesz 2011Footnote 3).

Duration of life cycle

Annual or biennial

Seed or fruit type

Achene

Identification features

Size

Shape

Surface Texture

Colour

Other Features

Habitat and Crop Association

Cultivated fields, pastures, rangelands, roadsides and disturbed areas (Desrochers et al. 1988Footnote 4, Darbyshire 2003Footnote 5).

General Information

Spiny plumeless thistle was first recorded on the east coast of North America in the late 19th century, possibly arriving in ships' ballast (Desrochers et al. 1988Footnote 4). It may form dense stands on disturbed sites and invade native and restored grasslands (Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries 2002Footnote 6).

Similar species

Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)

Photos

Figure 1 - Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achenes
Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achenes
Figure 2 - Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achene
Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achene
Figure 3 - Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achenes
Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achenes
Figure 4 - Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) top of achene
Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) top of achene
Figure 5 - Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) bottom of achene
Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) bottom of achene
Figure 6 - Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achene
Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) achene

Similar species

Figure 7 - Similar species: Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans) achenes
Similar species: Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans) achenes
Figure 8 - Similar species: Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans) achene
Similar species: Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans) achene
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