musk thistle: Carduus nutans (Asterales: Asteraceae)

musk thistle
Asterales > Asteraceae > Carduus nutans L.
Synonym(s): nodding plumeless thistle, nodding thistle, bristle thistle
Musk thistle is an herbaceous, biennial plant that grows to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. It has become a serious invader of open lands throughout the continental United States. It can be recognized by its showy, red-purple flowers and very spiny stem and leaves. Flowering occurs from June to September. The large, disk-shaped, terminal flower heads droop when mature. Musk thistle invades a variety of disturbed areas. Pastures are particularly at risk because musk thistle is unpalatable to livestock. Once established it can spread rapidly due to high seed production (as much as 120,000 seed per plant). Musk thistle is native to Western Europe and was accidentally introduced into the United States in the early 1900s.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service

http://www.invasive.org/eastern/biocontrol/18MuskThistle.html - Apr 18, 2005

Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC

http://www.invasive.org/eastern/eppc/muskthistle.html - Apr 18, 2005

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/carnut/all.html - Apr 18, 2005

Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/canu1.htm - Apr 18, 2005

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

http://tncinvasives.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/cardnut.pdf - Apr 18, 2005

Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/musk-thistle.pdf - Nov 7, 2006

Selected Images

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Number:	0580013
Description:	Foliage; basal rosette
Photographer:	Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

Number:	5229042
Description:	Foliage;
Photographer:	Richard Old, XID Services, Inc.
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

Number:	1237112
Description:	Plant(s); lower stem
Photographer:	Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com
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Number:	1237110
Description:	Plant(s); upper stem
Photographer:	Dan Tenaglia, Missouriplants.com
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Number:	1358309
Description:	Feature(s); Stem and foliage
Photographer:	Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte,
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Number:	1148159
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

Number:	1539016
Description:	Plant(s);
Photographer:	James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:	0001059
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
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Number:	1382013
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	Ricky Layson, Ricky Layson Photography
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Number:	5379582
Description:	Flower(s); June
Photographer:	James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:	5379583
Description:	Stem(s); June
Photographer:	James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
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Number:	1382012
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	Ricky Layson, Ricky Layson Photography
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Number:	1334026
Description:	Flower(s); Ready to set seed. Montana
Photographer:	Wendy VanDyk Evans,
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Number:	1459773
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	Steve Dewey, Utah State University
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

Number:	5229043
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	Richard Old, XID Services, Inc.
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

Number:	1459777
Description:	Plant(s);
Photographer:	Steve Dewey, Utah State University
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

Number:	1358315
Description:	Plant(s);
Photographer:	Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte,
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Number:	1459781
Description:	Plant(s);
Photographer:	Steve Dewey, Utah State University
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Number:	1459766
Description:	Flower(s);
Photographer:	Steve Dewey, Utah State University
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Number:	1299210
Description:	Plant(s);
Photographer:	Vince Belleci,
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Number:	0024053
Description:	Infestation;
Photographer:	Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service
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Number:	1459768
Description:	Infestation;
Photographer:	Steve Dewey, Utah State University
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Number:	1299211
Description:	Infestation;
Photographer:	Vince Belleci,
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Number:	1384001
Description:	Infestation; A pile of fill dirt left over winter. The following spring, the pile was covered in musk thistles.
Photographer:	Kris Johnson, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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Number:	5306090
Description:	Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 554.
Photographer:	USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
	Additional Resolutions and Image Usage

External Links

Invasive Reference(s)

Subject Reference(s)

USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. - http://plants.usda.gov/


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