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Project Noah Nature School
Cirsium heterophyllum
It is an erect spineless herb, unusually for a thistle. The plant grows 45 - 120 cm tall, and forms runners. The stem is grooved, more-or-less branchless, and cottony. The leaves are green and hairless above, thick white felted underneath. The base leaves are lanceolate with stalks and softly prickly edges, and grow from 20 - 40 cm long, and from 4 - 8 cm wide. The upper leaves do not have stalks, clasping the stem with cordate (heart-shaped) bases. The flower heads are 3 - 5 cm long and wide, red-purple in color, and appear from July to August.
It is found in Europe. It grows in upland meadows, grasslands, roads and open woods.
The plant was considered a possible cure for sadness. Nicholas Culpepper in 1669 said that it "makes a man as merry as a cricket".
I do see some spikes on the leaf to the top right in the firt photo. I am looking forward to the ID-suggestion :)
Hm..not sure, Jopy will help with this I'm sure :D but I haven't seen any spiny parts...
I think it is the same as http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/284.... And with the two suggestions there I am sure you will have a good start for your research :) Oh, and in order to catch your Stone bumblebee, you should stay close to those plants, Thistles to them is like bananas for monkeys :P
Have a great day Injica :)
Spotted on Jun 27, 2013
Submitted on Jun 28, 2013
