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Photo is of parent taxon

edible thistle, Macoun's thistle

Peduncles

0–5(–10) cm.

Involucres

2–4 × 2.5–4 cm, usually densely arachnoid.

Corollas

(15–)18–22 mm, tubes 7–11 mm, throats (4–)5–8.5 mm, lobes (2–)4.5–7 mm;

style tips 4–5 mm.

Heads

often densely crowded at stem tips.

Cypselae

dark brown, 5–6.5 mm;

pappi 20–25 mm.

Phyllary

apices widely spreading, long-acicular, spines 5–15 mm.

2n

= 34 (as C. edule).

Cirsium edule var. macounii

Phenology Flowering Jun–Oct.
Habitat Damp soil, mostly montane meadows, forests, alpine
Elevation 0–1900 m (0–6200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; OR; WA; BC
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Variety macounii ranges from the coastal mountains of southeastern Alaska and British Columbia to Vancouver Island, the Olympic Peninsula, and northern Cascades of Washington, and the mountains of northwestern Oregon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 19, p. 147.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Cardueae > Cirsium > Cirsium edule
Sibling taxa
C. edule var. edule, C. edule var. wenatchense
Synonyms Carduus macounii, C. macounii
Name authority (Greene) D. J. Keil: Sida 21: 213. (2004)
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