Virginia Thistle

(Cirsium virginianum)

 

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

Cirsium altissimum

The thin upper leaves of Virginia Thistle can be confused with those of Tall Thistle. However the upper leaves of Tall Thistle embrace the bottom of the flower head. In addition Virginia Thistle is found in wet, coastal areas unlike the drier, more ubiquitous habitats of Tall Thistle.

Virginia Thistle (Cirsium virginianum)

Identification: Flower head ovate, usually solitary at the top of the plant, topped with a spray of lilac to purple florets. Upper leaves do not embrace the bottom of the flower head. Flower bracts tipped with spines. Stem smooth, without spines or spiny plates. Upper leaves thin, lanceolate, and reduced. Bottom leaves larger, with spine-tipped lobes. Leaves with white, woolly hair on bottom side. Plant 1 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Found along the eastern Coastal Plain from New Jersey south to Florida.

Habitat: Virginia Thistle is an inhabitant of bogs and wet pine barrens.

Flowering period: August to October.

Virginia Thistle (Cirsium virginianum)

Similar Species:

Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum)

 

 Similar Species