Spear thistle
Cirsium vulgare, Fam. Asteraceae
Erect robust spiny annual herb to 1.5m. Stems cottony hairy, furrowed with spiny wings that are a continuation of the leaf bases.
Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
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Weed: | Yes |
Form or habit: | Herb |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Leaf: | Simple Basal Initially in a basal rosette, then alternate, dark green bristly above, white woolly below, ovate in outline up to 450 x 100mm, deeply lobed. Lobes and leaf tips ending in sharp spines. |
Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Flower colour: |
Purple, Pink |
Flower description: | Pinkish purple in fluffy terminal heads surrounded by spiny bracts, 30-50mm in diameter. |
Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Fruit colour: |
Grey |
Fruit: | Dry |
Fruit description: | ‘Seeds’ 3-5mm long, flat, smooth, grey with longitudinal darker markings, topped with numerous feather-like bristles 20-30mm long. |
Habitat: | |
Distribution | |
Food source for: | |
Toxicity: | |
Origin: | Europe, Asia and Northern Africa |
Notes: | Spread by: ‘seeds’ dispersed by wind, water or mud. Invades: common in crop and non-crop areas on fertile soils. Notes: not palatable to stock. Incorrectly called scotch thistle in Queensland. |
Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |