Cirsium pitcheri
Cirsium pitcheri | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Cirsium |
Species: | C. pitcheri
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Binomial name | |
Cirsium pitcheri | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Cirsium pitcheri, sometimes called Pitcher's thistle or dune thistle, is a species of
Description
Pitcher's thistle is a plant of modest appearance through much of its lifespan; it concentrates most of its biomass in a massive
The Pitcher's thistle is adapted to life on open, windswept, semi-stable sand dune surfaces. It can flower at any time from mid-June through mid-September, depending on the amount of energy it has stored in its taproot and on local rain conditions immediately prior to the flowering.
History and identification
The Pitcher's thistle was first identified by Dr.
Distribution
The Pitcher's thistle is found exclusively along the shorelines of Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior, particularly in areas of sand dunes.[3] Two of the largest remaining populations have been identified in the Nordhouse Dunes area of the Manistee National Forest, and within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In addition, Pitcher's thistle continues to grow and flower in some smaller state parks and private tracts along these lake shores.
Conservation
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
- ^ The Plant List, Cirsium pitcheri (Torr. ex Eaton) Torr. & A.Gray
- ^ a b Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ^ United States Fish & Wildlife Service. 2005. Threatened and Endangered Animals and Plants, Species Information. Species Information Threatened and Endangered Animal and Plants
- ^ Flora of North America, Dune or sand-dune thistle, Cirsium pitcheri (Torrey ex Eaton) Torrey & A. Gray
- ^ Torrey, John ex Eaton, Amos 1829. Manual of Botany for North America. Fifth edition. 180, as Cnicus pitcheri
- ^ Tropicos, Cnicus pitcheri Torr. ex Eaton
- ^ Michigan Natural Features Inventory: Pitcher's thistle. Archived 2007-03-20 at the Wayback Machine 2004; Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. Accessed 11 February 2011.
- ^ Ontario's Biodiversity: Species at Risk - Pitcher's Thistle. Archived 2014-02-27 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 11 February 2011.
External links
- Pitcher's thistle: distribution and habitat. 2001; Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing, Mich. Accessed 11 February 2011.
- C. pitcheri. Archived 2002-11-21 at the Wayback Machine The Nature Conservancy.
- C. pitcheri. Center for Plant Conservation.