Flower ID: IMG_3239.JPG-09-08-2019 Flower name (scientific): Cirsium discolor (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) Sprengel PY: 1826. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) SIR-see-um DIS-kol-or Flower name (common): Field Thistle Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek kirsion, for a type of thistle. Specific epithet: Two-colored. Common name origin: From a common habitat. Thistle is a name applied to various prickly plants, with an origin unknown. Flower description: Size: 1.5 to 2.0 inches (3.8 to 5.1 cm) Petal count: ray florets absent, disc florets numerous. Color: pink, white is uncommon. Other: flower arrangement, None Plant description: Size: 36 to 72 inches (91 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed Size: Leaves typically up to about 22 cm long, basal leaved can be somewhat longer, and up to about 8 or more cm wide. Color: Upper surface medium green, lower surface whitish-green. Hairy: Upper surface pubescent, lower surface densely pubescent Other: Shape: leaf, oblanceolate to elliptic or ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Fields, prairies, meadows, roadsides, dry to moderate moisture, sun. Fruit: Pappus (tuft of white hairs) about 18 to 25 mm in size, attached as an appendage to a seed. The hairs aid in seed dispersal in the wind. Seed: Brown colored, and about 4 to 5 mm in length. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Other thistles, particularly Cirsium altissimum (Tall Thistle) and Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle). Cirsium discolor has leaves that are deeply lobed, whereas the upper leaves of C. altissimum are not lobed. C. discolor has hairy stems that are not spiny, whereas C. vulgare has stems that are hairy and spiny. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the roots of this plant to prepare a tea, which was used as a remedy for stomach ache (Smith, p. 213, 1928). The Cree and the Iroquois also used this plant to treat three different ailments (Moerman, p. 163, 1998). Latitude: 44.796910 Longitude: -91.512628 Altitude: 242.40 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Cnicus discolor Muhlenberg ex Willdenow Sp. Pl. 3: 1670. 1803. Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 7 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): UPL Wetland Status (MW): FACU