Cirsium muticum Michx. - Fen Thistle


 

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Cirsium muticum - (image 1 of 5)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Asteraceae

Habitat

Swamps, bogs, marshes, moist woods, thickets, and calcareous fens.

Associates

In fens found with Aster puniceus firmus, Aster umbellatus, Caltha palustris, Thelypteris palustris, Eupatorium maculatum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Gentiana procera, Impatiens capensis, Lobelia kalmii, Lysimachia quadriflora, Parnassia glauca, Pedicularis lanceolata, Solidago patula, Symplocarpus foetidus.

Distribution

Newfoundland west to Saskatchewan, south to DE, MO, and in mountains to NC and TN; irregularly to FL and TX.

Morphology

Course, branching biennial to 2 m from several stout roots. Leaves green, glabrous, deeply pinnately lobed or incised. Flowers magenta-purple; peduncles and stems not spiny-winged; involucres less than 3.5cm high; outer involucral bracts more ovate, without terminal spines.

Notes

Flowers early August to late October

Wetland indicator: Obligate

This plant always seems to be covered with butterflies when in bloom. Does not form extensive vegetative colonies like the introduced C. arvense.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 


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 Michael Hough © 2004