Swamp Thistle

(Cirsium muticum)

 

Color Photographs: North Dakota State University Extension Service

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum)

Identification: Flower head ovate, topped with a spray of lavender flowers. Flower bracts without spines, feeling sticky. Upper leaves of stem curve upward and embrace the bottom of the flower head. Flower heads often clustered at the top of the plant. Flowering stem hollow, arising from a rosette of heavily incised leaves. Both upper and lower leaves heavily incised and with cobwebby hair on the under side. Plant 2 to 10 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of eastern North America.

Habitat: Swamp Thistle is found in swamps, wet woods, and thickets.

Flowering period: July to September.

Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum)

Similar Species: 

The hollow flowering stem, clustered flower heads, and sticky flower bracts should easily identify this species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species