Carduus nutans
Carduus nutans | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Carduus |
Species: | C. nutans
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Binomial name | |
Carduus nutans |
Carduus nutans, with the common names musk thistle,[1] nodding thistle, and nodding plumeless thistle, is a biennial plant in the daisy and sunflower family Asteraceae. It is native to regions of Europe, Central Asia, and North Africa, where it is a scattered pasture plant.[2][3][4] The musk thistle has been declared as invasive in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.[3]
Description
Carduus nutans is a monocarpic herb and is classified as a biennial thistle, though it can have varying phenology depending on climate and habitat.
Flowers
The plant bears showy flowers that range from a deep rose to violet color.[11] The large globose flower heads, containing hundreds of tiny individual flowers, are 3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in) (rarely to 7 cm) in diameter and occur at the tips of stems. The flower heads commonly droop to a 90° to 120° angle from the stem when mature, hence its alternate name of "nodding thistle". Each plant may produce thousands of straw-colored seeds adorned with plume-like bristles. They are 4 to 6 cm across, with purple-red bracts.
The number of flower heads per plant is site-dependent and ranges from about 20–50 on good sites and 1–20 on poor sites. Flowering occurs from June to October,[12] and seed dissemination occurs approximately one month after the flowers form.
Distribution and habitat
Carduus nutans is native to Europe, Western Siberia, Asia, and North Africa.
Uses
Medicinal
Herbal decoctions have historically included Carduus nutans. Turkish fold medicine has used parts of the flowering branches to treat prostate disease.[18] It has also been documented that it has been used for treatment of liver disease, malaria, constipation, and kidney stones.[19]
Ecology
Climate and habitat play a large role in phenology of Carduus nutans. Classified as a biennial, it can also act as a summer or winter annual, as well as a perennial, depending on varying environmental conditions.[20]
Invasive species
C. nutans is an
Biological control
Several biological control agents have been released in attempt to control C. nutans. In Australia, some of those that have been released include Rhinocyllus conicus, Urophora solstitialis, and Trichosirocalus horridus.[25] In the United States there has been success with Rhinocyllus conicus, Trichosirocalus horridus, and Puccinia carduorum.[22] Previous populations in Southern California were eradicated, but it remains in northern California.[26] When biological control is successful, natural plants are shown to return to the habitat.[22]
Effects on biodiversity
C. nutans reduces forage biomass availability for livestock through competition for nutrients[20] The spiny plants affect movement of animals through the area, further decreasing availability of forage biomass.[20] It also causes soil erosion on roadways and wastelands.
References
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ISSN 0022-0477.
- ^ OCLC 770639865.
- ^ Gassmann, A.; Kok, L.-T. (2002). "Musk Thistle (Nodding Thistle)". USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04: 413.
- ^ ISSN 1939-7291.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
- ISBN 0-7232-2419-6.
- ^ ISSN 0043-1745.
- ISSN 0021-8901.
- OCLC 770639865.
- ^ Gassmann, A.; Kok, L.-T. (2002). "Musk Thistle (Nodding Thistle)". USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04: 413.
- ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
- PMID 22199031.
- ISSN 0021-8901.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
- .
- ^ Gassmann, A.; Kok, L.-T. (2002). "Musk Thistle (Nodding Thistle)". USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04: 413.
- ISSN 1309-0801.
- PMID 34964548.
- ^ ISSN 0043-1745.
- ^ "Morocco.com | Morocco's Fascinating Flora". Morocco.com. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ a b c d e f Gassmann, A.; Kok, L.-T. (2002). "Musk Thistle (Nodding Thistle)". USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04: 413.
- ^ USDA . accessed 4.8.2013
- ISSN 0028-8233.
- ISBN 978-0643099937.)
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: CS1 maint: date and year (link - ^ Cal IPC—California Invasive Plants Council: Carduus nutans (musk thistle)
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment: Carduus nutans
- U.S. National Invasive Species Information Center: Species Profile — Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) — Lists general information and resources. From the United States National Agricultural Library.
- Biological Control of the Musk Thistle in Kansas, Biological Control of Musk Thistle in Kansas
- Carduus nutans — U.C. Photo gallery