Canadian Thistle… Oops! July 22, 2009
Posted by littlebangtheory in Art and Nature, macro photos.Tags: Canada thistle, invasive species, root colonies
3 comments
Lately I’ve been taken by this thistle,* which seems to be more prevalent this year than in years past:
Turns out it’s Crisium arvense, Canadian (or Canada) thistle, and its proliferation isn’t likely to be just a matter of me noticing it – entire on-line forums are dedicated to sharing tips on its eradication. Apparently it grows from root “colonies,” thrives on being cut, and produces seeds which are both plentiful and viable within a couple of days of the appearance of flowers.
Still, it’s beautiful, so enjoy it from a distance, ‘k?
Edit:
* This photo was inadvertently inserted, um, by me, instead of the correct one above:
I was trying, as yet unsuccessfully, to identify it (it’s not a thistle) and got them mixed up. Sorry!
