Cirsium texanum
(Texas Thistle)
Cirsium texanum, Choke Canyon State Park, McMullen Co. 8196
Cirsium texanum, Pace Bend Park, Travis Co. 9403
Cirsium texanum, Pace Bend Park, Travis Co. 9442
Cirsium texanum, Emma Long Park, Travis Co. 6303
Cirsium texanum, Big Bend Ranch State Park 4589
Cirsium texanum, Big Bend Ranch State Park 4627
Cirsium texanum, Choke Canyon State Park, McMullen Co. 8204
Cirsium texanum, Big Bend Ranch State Park 4605
| Scientific Name | Cirsium texanum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CITE2 |
| Common Name | Texas Thistle | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 36418 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Dry soils in fields, prairies, disturbed and overgrazed areas; common in much of Texas. Plant: Erect biennial or short-lived perennial; usually solitary, spiny stems often much-branched above; 2 to 5 feet tall. Leaves: Mid-stem and above alternate, clasping, narrowly-obovate in outline with 3 to 9 spiny-toothed lobes on each edge, hairy beneath and 4 to 12 inches long; larger basal leaves in a rosette. Inflorescence: Terminal, solitary, very showy lavender flower head 1 to 1-1/2 inches across with many disk florets, no rays; cup-shaped involucre of linear, recurved phyllaries beneath. Bloom Period: April to July. References: "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024