Flower ID: IMG_8586.JPG-08-13-2021 Flower name (scientific): Carduus acanthoides Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) KAR-doo-us (or KAR-du-us) ak-anth-o-I-dez (or uh-kan-THOY-dees) Flower name (common): Plumeless Thistle Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Latin for thistle. Specific epithet: Like Acanthus, which is a genus in the family Acanthaceae. Common name origin: The seed pappus is usually described as fluffy but not feathery, hence plumeless. Thistle has been used for at least 1300 years (with different spellings) for various prickly herbaceous plants. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: There are no ray florets; disc florets numerous. Color: purple Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 12 to 48 inches (30 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, spiny-toothed or pinnately lobed Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, invasive/Restricted in Wisconsin Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Biennial Habitat: Disturbed areas, waste sites, roadsides, fields, sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Two other thistles have a resemblance, Carduus nutans (Nodding Thistle, Musk Thistle) and Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle). Cirsium vulgare has flower heads typically 35 to 50 mm, Carduus nutans has flower heads typically 25 to 75 mm wide and the phyllaries are broad and turn purple as the flowers bloom, whereas Carduus acanthoides has flower heads typically 18 to 25 mm wide and the phyllaries are narrow and green. Ethnobotany: Latitude: 44.813230 Longitude: -91.506677 Altitude: 266.40 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Crawford, Dane, Eau Claire, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, La Crosse, Lafayette, Oconto, Oneida, Pierce, Richland, Sauk, Shawano, Vernon, Walworth, Winnebago) Click here for distribution map In US: (CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (BC, NB, NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Carduus acanthoides subsp. acanthoides (The other infraspecifics are Carduus acanthoides subsp. pakistanicus Abid & Qaiser, Carduus acanthoides subsp. sintenisii Kazmi. Neither of these two subspecies have been recorded in North America.) Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed