Not listed as a noxious weed by the state or governments in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. A very desirable garden plant, Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum', commonly known as Plume Thistle, is a tall, branching, upright perennial exhibiting strong, leafless stems with pincushion-like, deep crimson flowers, up to 1 in wide (3 cm), atop a large basal rosette of soft green leaves. The precise management measures adopted for any plant invasion will depend upon factors such as the terrain, the cost and availability of labour, the severity of the infestation and the presence of other invasive species. For more information, see Noxious Weed Lists and Laws or visit the website of the Washington State Noxious Weed Contro… However, care should be taken to use a selective broadleaf herbicide to keep the competitive grasses intact. Cirsium heterophyllum and wildlife. They form a flat rosette. Most species are considered weeds, typically by agricultural interests. It is utilized by various insects, such as beetles, honey bees, bumble bees, hoverflies and many butterflies. They should be sown at a depth of 0.12 inch (3 mm). obs.). Family Asteraceae Genus Cirsium may be biennials or perennials with spiny leaves and typical thistle-type flower-heads Details 'Atropurpureum' is an upright perennial forming a clump of branching, leafy stems with spherical, deep red flower-heads 3cm across in summer Canadian Journal of Botany, 78 (12): 1545-1551. Cirsium vulgare(bull thistle, common thistle, or spear thistle) is listed as a noxious weed in nine US states. This plant bears leaves that end in extended, very sharp thorns and are beige in colour. Seeds are dispersed during August and September. It is frequent on unsown set-aside land and seems to have increased since the 1960s. Low Maintenance, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Wildflower, Wildlife. BioNET-EAFRINET Regional Coordinator: eafrinet@africaonline.co.ke, Introduced, naturalised or invasive in East Africa, www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?h=M4&t=Cirsium,vulgare&p=Cirsium+vulgare#Synonyms. Species: heterophyllum. Alien weeds and invasive plants. Hardiness: Hardy. Seed production per plant may vary from 1,600 to 8,400 seeds. Cirsium vulgare Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso. Bull thistle is a Class C Noxious Weed in Washington, first listed in 1988. Seeds C-F > Cirsium oleraceum Cirsium oleraceum SKU: £3.00. More seeds are produced when ample soil moisture is available during the growing season. Cirsium vulgare (spear thistle). The seeds are attractive to ants that may further disperse the shed seeds. It is hardy to zone (UK) 2 and is not frost tender. Accessed March 2011. In pasture and other areas of dense vegetation seedlings emerge from small areas of disturbance like rabbit scrapings or the bare patches left when a parent plant dies. Accessed January 2011. In heavier soils, however, a small number of seeds may remain for 3 years or more. The stem is winged, with many longitudinal spine-tipped wings along its full length. https://themeaningofwater.com/.../the-bull-thistle-cirsium-vulgare-a-study In light soils the seeds do not persist for longer than a year on the surface or in shallow layers of soil. Another important means of seed dispersal is in baled hay or as a contaminant in cereal, clover and grass seed. If started to be grown indoors first, then Cirsium takes about two to three weeks to germinate at a temperature of 21 to 24 degrees Centigrade (70 to 75°F). Great for adding an focal point to a border. It was named and described as such by Michele Tenore in Flora Napolitana in 1835. This fact sheet is adapted from The Environmental Weeds of Australia by Sheldon Navie and Steve Adkins, Centre for Biological Information Technology, University of Queensland. Cirsium vulgare is a BIENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in) at a fast rate. Though we love our Perennials, Irises and Peonies, we know these are useful in the garden too! English Name(s): Melancholy Thistle, Plumed Thistles. Cirsium vulgare is a spiny herbaceous biennial, much branched to about 1.5 metres high with a deep tap root. A large, non-spiky, perennial thistle, native to central and eastern Europe and Asia in wet soils. Cultivation. Soil Type: Chalk, Sand, Loam The seeds of scotch thistles can be sown in either autumn or after the last frost of spring. Controlling the weed before it seeds will reduce future problems. All prices include postage and packing. is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. album Mozaff. Rosettes at 5-8 cm in diameter are more readily lifted and disposed of than large plants. Plants cut down in flower produce few seeds and although they appear normal none are viable. In the southern hemisphere, C. vulgare flowers and sets seed from late January (Groves and Kaye, 1989) to late May (Forcella and Wood, 1986b). Gardening readers can buy three Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' for £9.95 or buy six for £19.90 and receive a further 3 free. Henderson, L. (2001). : 349F. Seeds submerged in water gave 1% germination after 3 months. Seed production may vary from 1,600 to 8,400 seeds per plant (Sindel, 1991). Our charity brings together thousands of people who share a common belief - that organic growing is essential for a healthy and sustainable world. It also occurs on roadsides, coastal dunes and in woodland clearings. Bull Thistle, Boar Thistle, Common Thistle, Dodder, Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare SIR-see-um vul-GAIR-ee Synonyms of Cirsium vulgare: Carduus vulgaris Savi, Cirsium vulgare var. It has been listed as a noxious weed in South Africa (prohibited plants that must be controlled. C. vulgare spreads freely by means of seedwhich can be dispersed by the wind over a large area. Genus: Cirsium. Synonyms: Carduus lanceolatus, Cirsium lanceolatum Common names: bull thistle Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) is a perennial or biennial forb (family Asteraceae) Bull thistle is widespread in California and is most common in coastal grasslands, along edges of fresh and brackish marshes, and in meadows and mesic forest openings in the … Spear thistle reproduces only by seed and it is important to prevent fresh seeding. £3.00. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. Flowering stems should be collected and destroyed to keep them from forming viable seed. C. vulgare has been included in the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD 2010). Kajiado and Laikipia) and has been introduced to Tanzania and Uganda (A.B.R. In grassland, young plants should be spudded out at the rosette stage or cut down when in bud to prevent seeding. Stem and leaves "The stems are ridged lengthwise (i.e. Will self-seed freely. Seed Catalogue No. Spear thistle, bank thistle, bird thistle, black thistle, blue thistle, boar thistle, bull thistle, bur thistle, button thistle, common bull thistle, common thistle, Fuller's thistle, green thistle, plume thistle, roadside thistle, Scotch thistle, swamp thistle. 1- SPEAR THISTLE – Cirsium vulgare Unlike creeping thistle (C. arvense), the feathery pappus remains attached firmly to the seed as an aid to wind dispersal. Cirsium vulgare is invasive in parts of Kenya (e.g. The best form of invasive species management is prevention. C. vulgare only reproduces by seed so control of seed set is key to preventing new infestations. In all types of soil, seeds buried at 15 cm deep remain firm and viable for at least 3 years. Plants can be self-pollinated or insect-pollinated, mainly by long-tongued bees. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. Seeds are short-lived on the soil surface but can persist for many years when they are buried, such as from cultivation activities. Download this stock image: Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare, seed head - X9XH43 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Fewer than 10 seedlings are likely to develop from the seeds shed by an individual thistle plant. A magnet for bees and birds! Colour: Purple/Lavender. If grown indoors first then Cirsium takes about 2 to 3 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius). 12, 300pp. How to grow Scotch thistle - Cirsium. The average number of seeds per flower head is around 100 but there can be up to 340. The seeds are attractive to small finches such as American goldfinch. Common Name: Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare, more commonly known as Spear Thistle, is a tall biennial or short-lived monocarpic thistle, forming a rosette of leaves and a taproot up to 70 cm long in the first year, and a flowering stem 1.0–1.5 m tall in the second (rarely third or fourth) year. Plant in moist, well-drained soil. Stems of C. vulgare have spiny wings. Can tolerate some dryness and partial shade. Flowers of C. vulgare occur in heads of 5 by 5 cm, are pink to mauve and are surrounded by spiny bracts. & Cavers, P.B. Spear thistle does appear to accumulate a persistent seedbank and seedlings may only emerge after fresh seed has been shed. From Our Gift Shop. longitudinally) with spiny 'wings' originating where the edges of the leaves continue down the stem. CABI Publishing 2011. www.cabi.org/ISC. Fresh seeds are capable of germinating in either light/dark or constant dark conditions under favourable diurnal temperatures of 25°C: 10°C. Cirsium vulgare spreads from pastures, crops, waste areas and roadsides into disturbed native grasslands, open woodlands and conservation areas. (1988) reported mean seed numbers per plant of 258, 647 and 2,080 Through campaigning, advice, community work and research, our aim is to get everyone growing ‘the organic way’. Seidiger Fallkaefer, (Cryptocephalus sericeus), an Kratzdistell, (Cirsium vulgare), Deutschland, Europa. Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. Manipulation of grazing together with sowing of appropriate grasses can help to reduce the densities of this weed. Canadian Journal of Botany, 74: 1386-1391. It nectar-pollen-rich-flowers and has seeds … Seeds do not germinate after 3 years in dry storage. (2000) Effects of wetting and drying on seed germination and seedling emergence of bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. Identify bull thistle via its pictures, habitat, height, flowers and leaves. PROTA database. As a celebration and count-down to this anniversary the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum together with the Oxford University Herbaria and the Department of Plant Sciences will highlight 400 plants of scientific and cultural significance. The flowers of Cirsium vulgare are a rich source of nectar and pollen. Biological control releases against C. vulgare have been undertaken in many countries with variable success. Flowers: July, August. Cirsium vulgare has poor dispersal in space, but can form a persistent seed bank. Plants can be self-pollinated or insect-pollinated, mainly by long-tongued bees. Pasture Thistle can be identified by examining the underside of the leaves. The plant is self-fertile. Seed production per plant may vary from 1,600 to 8,400 seeds. Leaves are dark green, deeply lobbed, with stiff hairs above, white woolly beneath; Leaf lobes end in strong spines. Accumulator: C. vulgare is a "Terrestrial indigenous and crop [plant] able to absorb, translocate and accumulate HMX in foliar tissues (from contaminated soil from an anti-tank firing range)" [Ramsden BMDHP] Allelopathic: C. arvense is allelopathic against several species including C. vulgare. Shrubs, Bulbs, Seeds. Cirsium vulgare, Spear Thistle seeds, ready for wind dispersal, Wales, UK. Witt pers. (Cirsium lanceolatum, Carduus lanceolatum, Cnicus lanceolatum). www.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?h=M4&t=Cirsium,vulgare&p=Cirsium+vulgare#Synonyms. Buy Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' from Sarah Raven: Handsome, long-flowering, easy, healthy and loved by our pollinating insects. Seeds are dispersed by wind, animals, mud, water, and sometimes by ants. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html Disturbance of the soil and vegetation has been shown to advance the germination of spear thistle. 298104) and Scotland (SC046767). Spear thistle seedlings may emerge in spring and autumn but the main period of emergence is March to April. Downs, M.P. Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. Spear thistle rosettes grow better in grazed than ungrazed pasture because of reduced competition from neighbouring plants. The seeds of Cirsium can be sown in either autumn or after the last frost of spring. CABI Invasive Species Compendium online data sheet. The fruit is a one seeded tufted  achene that bears silky hairs. Consistent follow-up work is required for sustainable management. Nevertheless, most seed is dispersed less than 2 m from the parent and only 10% travel more that 32 m after reaching higher air currents. Spear thistle flowers in June and July but rosettes can survive for up to 4 years without flowering. Klinkhamer et al. We recognise the support from the National Museums of Kenya, Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) - Tanzania and Makerere University, Uganda. The plants need to reach a threshold size before flowering is initiated. Seeds are dispersed during August and September. On intact plants the first ripe seeds are formed by the end of July. Cirsium vulgare as a weed Spear thistle is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959, and a noxious weed in Australia and in nine US states. Thistle seeds are a favoured food of many members of the finch family Fringillidae, whose genus name, Carduelis, is derived from carduus, the Latin name for thistle and includes goldfinch, greenfinch and linnet. Doucet, C. & Cavers, P.B. C. vulgare spreads freely by means of  seed which can be dispersed by the wind over a large area. Loose-rooted plants supplied. Habitats include pastures, abandoned fields, fence rows, areas along roadsides and railroads, cut-over woods, and miscellaneous waste areas. The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects. Genus Cirsium may be biennials or perennials with spiny leaves and typical thistle-type flower-heads Details A handsome biennial that rises to a metre in height, the spear thistle bears spiny stems and pinnately lobed, pointed leaves. As the leaf rosette develops it physically suppresses the growth of the surrounding grass. However, these uses cannot compensate for this plant's overall negative impacts. Seeds may germinate and become established in thinner parts of a grass sward. Cirsium vulgare reproduces only by seed. Locations within which Cirsium vulgare is naturalised include Africa and Asia, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, South America, Hawaii and other Pacific islands. We use cookies to personalise content, analyse website performance and for advertising purposes. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is wild, edible and nutritious food. More seeds are produced when ample soil moisture is available during the growing season. One end of the seed contains many brown hairs. The seedlings should be planted out in early spring, when it is still possible to get a frost with a spacing of about 2 feet (60 cm). The species has a two year life cycle, flowering and setting seed in the second year. Seeds are short-lived on the soil surface but can persist for many years when they are buried, such as from cultivation activities. Produces creamy flowers with a hint of purple on tall stems in July to September and attractive pale green and white bracts. Suitable for: Cut Flowers. Unavailable per item 30 seeds per packet. Overgrazed pastures are susceptible to encroachment, and it can sometimes form dense stands that reduce productivity and stocking levels. Spear thistle can be pulled out when in flower, or the taproot may be cut below ground when plants are at the rosette stage using a thistle hoe. Our native thistles benefit many different pollinators. Regular cutting, cultivation and tilling considerably reduce populations of C. vulgare and should be encouraged. This activity was undertaken as part of the BioNET-EAFRINET UVIMA Project (Taxonomy for Development in East Africa). Public and private landowners are not required to control infestations of bull thistle that occur on their property in King County. Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of south-eastern Australia (i.e. Spread is only by seed, not by root fragments as in the related creeping thistle C. arvense. This species prefers disturbed areas and is not common in relatively undisturbed natural habitats. In arable crops, spear thistle seedlings are destroyed by surface cultivations in spring, and by hoeing or spudding as necessary. If prevention is no longer possible, it is best to treat the weed infestations when they are small to prevent them from establishing (early detection and rapid response). They should be sown at a depth of 3 mm (1/8th inch). The species has a two year life cycle, flowering and setting seed in the second year. 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