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Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) |
Color Photograph: © by and courtesy of Alberto Salguero Quiles, GNU Free Documentation License
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Cirsium horridulum Blessed Thistle might be confused with Yellow Thistle. The base of the flower head of Yellow Thistle has leafy bracts, but the bracts are smaller and narrower than those of Blessed Thistle. The leaves of Blessed Thistle are broad at the base. In contrast the leaves of Yellow Thistle taper toward their bases. Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) Alien: Native of Europe. Identification: Flower globular tipped with a brush of deep yellow florets. Base of flower head enclosed by large, leaflike bracts. Stem and leaves hairy. Leaves elongate with large spine-tipped teeth, broad at the base, almost sessile to the stem. Plant 1 to 2.5 feet in height. Distribution: Local, but found throughout most of Eastern North America. Also occurs in Texas and many of the western states. Habitat: Blessed Thistle is a weed found in disturbed habitats such as empty lots, fields, and roadsides. Flowering period: May to August. |
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus)
Similar Species: Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum)
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Similar Species |
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