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wavyleaf thistle

Habit Plants perennial, 2–23 dm; taprooted, often with well-developed lateral roots.
Stems

1–several, white-tomentose.

Leaves

elliptic to ovate, 10–40 × 1–10(14) cm;

margins shallowly dentate to deeply pinnate, undulate;

spines 2–12 mm;

surfaces abaxially densely white-tomentose, adaxially glabrate to sparsely tomentose;

basal occasionally present at flowering, sessile, clasping, or petiolate.

Involucres

ovoid to campanulate, 2.5–4.5 × 1.5–4.5 cm, glabrate to thinly tomentose.

Florets

corollas 24–50 mm, white to pale lavender or pink;

tubes 12–28 mm;

throats 6–14 mm;

lobes 7–13 mm;

style tips 5–7.5 mm.

Phyllaries

imbricate, with prominent glutinous ridges;

spines spreading to reflexed, 1.5–5 mm.

Fruits

6–7 mm; light to dark brown;

pappi 20–40 mm.

Heads

1–10.

Cirsium altissimum

Cirsium undulatum

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Sagebrush areas, dry hillsides, prairies, disturbed areas, roadsides. Flowering May–Aug. 50–1400 m. Col, ECas, Lava, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to British Columbia, northeast to Manitoba, east to MI, southeast to TX, south to Mexico, GA, PA. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 230
Bridget Chipman
Sibling taxa
C. andersonii, C. arvense, C. brevifolium, C. brevistylum, C. ciliolatum, C. cymosum, C. douglasii, C. eatonii, C. edule, C. edule x Cirsium remotifolium, C. inamoenum, C. occidentale, C. ochrocentrum, C. remotifolium, C. scariosum, C. undulatum, C. vulgare
C. andersonii, C. arvense, C. brevifolium, C. brevistylum, C. ciliolatum, C. cymosum, C. douglasii, C. eatonii, C. edule, C. edule x Cirsium remotifolium, C. inamoenum, C. occidentale, C. ochrocentrum, C. remotifolium, C. scariosum, C. vulgare
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