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Cirsium vulgare
Cirsium vulgare (spear thistle) is a species of the genus Cirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), Western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains).[2][3][4][5][6] It is also naturalised in North America, Africa, and Australia and is as an invasive weed in some areas.[7][8][9] It is the national flower of Scotland. (Wikipedia, 2015)
Spear thistle is often a ruderal species, colonising bare disturbed ground, but also persists well on heavily grazed land as it is unpalatable to most grazing animals.[11] The flowers are a rich nectar source used by numerous pollinating insects, including honey bees, wool-carder bees, and many butterflies.[12] The seeds are eaten by goldfinches, linnets and greenfinches.[13] The seeds are dispersed by wind, mud, water, and possibly also by ants; they do not show significant long-term dormancy, most germinating soon after dispersal and only a few lasting up to four years in the soil seed bank.[14] Seed is also often spread by human activity such as hay bales.[11] (Wikipedia, 2015)
Spear thistle is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959,[15] and a noxious weed in Australia[14][16][17] and in nine US states.[18] Spread is only by seed, not by root fragments as in the related creeping thistle C. arvense. It is best cleared from land by hoeing and deep cutting of the taproot before seeds mature; regular cultivation also prevents its establishment.[11] (Wikipedia, 2015)
Spotted on Jul 12, 2015
Submitted on Jul 13, 2015
