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Anderson's thistle

Ashland thistle

Habit Plants perennial, (1.5)4–7(10) dm; taprooted, sometimes with creeping roots. Plants perennial, 6–20 dm; from creeping roots.
Stems

usually 1, sparsely arachnoid-tomentose to glabrate.

1–several, thinly arachnoid to densely white-tomentose.

Leaves

elliptic to linear-oblong, 8–20(35) × 2–8 cm, gradually reduced above;

margins coarsely dentate or 1–2-pinnate;

spines 1–5 mm;

surfaces abaxially ± thinly gray-tomentose, adaxially glabrous to sparsely pilose;

basal usually present at flowering, clasping to petiolate.

oblong-elliptic, 10–30 × 3–12 cm;

margins entire to deeply dentate, lobed or pinnate;

spines 1–6 mm;

surfaces abaxially white-tomentose, adaxially thinly arachnoid-tomentose;

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

Involucres

broadly cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 3–5 × 2–4 cm, glabrous to thinly tomentose.

ovoid to hemispheric, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–3 cm, glabrate to thinly arachnoid.

Florets

corollas 30–45 mm, red, occasionally red-purple;

tubes 10–20 mm;

throats abruptly narrowed to tubes, 10–16 mm;

lobes 9–11 mm;

styles conspicuously exserted;

tips 3.5–5 mm, sometimes geniculate.

corollas 15–27 mm, white to lavender;

tubes 7–11 mm;

throats 5–11 mm;

lobes 5–7 mm;

style tips 5–7 mm.

Phyllaries

without glutinous ridges;

spines weak, 1–3 mm; outer short, linear-lanceolate, appressed;

margins entire or spiny-ciliate;

tips long-acuminate; inner linear; long; entire;

tips red to purple; flat.

strongly imbricate, with prominent glutinous ridges;

tips ascending to spreading;

spines fine, 1–3 mm.

Fruits

6–7 mm, brown;

pappi 25–40 mm.

3.5–7 mm, brown;

pappi 15–20 mm.

Heads

1–6 per branch;

lateral heads widely spaced along distal portions of branches.

1–few.

Cirsium andersonii

Cirsium ciliolatum

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

Open grasslands, montane woodlands. Flowering Jul–Sep. 1500–2500 m. ECas. CA, NV. Native.

Cirsium andersonii, while currently rare in Oregon, is well documented in northern California and Nevada.

Meadows, open woodlands, hillsides, dry or rocky ground. Flowering May–Aug. 400–1400 m. Sisk. CA. Native.

Cirsium ciliolatum is listed as endangered by the state of California.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 225
Bridget Chipman
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 225
Bridget Chipman
Sibling taxa
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. 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
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