#canada thistle

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Canada Thistle @ Peace Valley Park, Pennsylvania, USA-8112

By gsegelken

[flowerishness]

Thistles (probably Canada thistle - Cirsium arvense) 

‘Thistle’ is the common name for plants in 16 genera whose flowers conform to this general shape. Farmers world-wide hate them because they invade pastureland and herbivores won’t eat them because of their prickles. A number of species merit condemnation on the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia’s website. Most thistles look very much the same and thereby hangs a tale.

The Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) is the national emblem of Scotland. According to legend, in the eight century a Norse raiding party was approaching a Scottish garrison when a bare-footed Viking stepped on a Scotch thistle and his cry of pain alerted the Scots and saved the day. The Scottish king, Alexander lll (1249 - 1286), declared the Scotch thistle the official emblem and it later acquired the motto, nemo me impune lacessit  (’no one will provoke me with impunity’). 

[rabbitcruiser]

Sherman Summit, WY (No. 1)

Sherman Summit or Sherman Hill Summit, elevation 8,640 ft (2,630 m), is a mountain pass about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) north-northwest of the ghost town of Sherman at 41.23635°N 105.43655°W. While not a particularly rugged mountain crossing, it holds special significance as the highest point along the entire length of transcontinental Interstate 80.

Just southwest of present-day Sherman Summit at 41.23308°N 105.44127°W , at an elevation of about 8,820 ft (2,690 m), is the highest point on the original transcontinental Lincoln Highway and its successor, U.S. 30. This location, where the pavement is still in place, is known simply as The Summit. A huge bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln once stood here; it has been moved to Sherman Summit.

Source: Wikipedia

[regnum-plantae]

Cirsium arvense, Asteraceae

A very common sight for anyone living in cool, temperate areas of the northern hemisphere, creeping thistle, generally known as Canada thistle in North America, is ubiquitously considered a noxious weed with the potential to become quickly invasive, spreading rapidly through lateral rhizomes. Similarly to C. vulgaris, the common thistle much celebrated here in Scotland, its roots, stems and leaves are edible, but rather bland and not really worth taking the time to remove all the spines. 

However, the plant is of great value to wildlife, as its leaves, nectar and seeds, often available in large quantities due to its tendency to form impressive clonal colonies, are fundamental for the sustenance of a variety of creatures. I couldn’t take good photos of all of them, but in the ten minutes I spent observing two different colonies I spotted six different species between bees and bumblebees and dozens of couples of common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) which love to mate on thistles. 

[saatkontor]

Canada thistle, Californian thistle, Canadian thistle, creeping thistle, field thistle /Acker-Kratzdistel (Cirsium arvense)

[flowerishness]

Cirsium arvense (Canada Thistle)

Don’t blame Canada

Canada thistle is native to Eurasia. It arrived in Canada with the first explorers - probably stuck to the bottom of Jacques Cartier’s boot. It’s considered a noxious weed throughout in the world, even in it’s European homeland. According to Wikipedia, other common names for this plant include ‘cursed thistle’ and ‘lettuce from hell thistle’. I think you get the picture.

[calochortus]

it's a small world ❤️ by Aimee ️

[flight-of-the-chickadee]

A Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) blooms by the side of the path.

Canada thistles are an invasive species here — they can and will take over massive areas, to the exclusion of all other flora. They not only seed very quickly but also do so multiple times per growing season, making management extremely difficult.

But they do have a very pretty flower.