| spiny plumeless thistle | USDA PLANTS Symbol: CAAC U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs |
| Carduus acanthoides L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Asterales: Asteraceae |
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| Synonym(s): plumeless thistle | |
| Native Range: Temp. Asia, Europe (GRIN); | |
Spiny plumeless thistle is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant that grows to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall. It is an invader of pastures and other disturbed areas throughout parts of the western, central, and northeastern United States, as well as southern Canada. Flowering occurs from May to August. The flower heads are red to purple in color and up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter. Flower stems are branched with spiny wings extending to the flower heads. Hybridization with musk thistle (C. nutans) has been observed. Spiny plumeless thistle infests open, disturbed areas such as pastures, roadsides, and railroad right-of-ways. It can form dense stands that reduce the forage potential of pastures and suppress the growth of more desirable vegetation. Spiny plumeless thistle is native to Europe and Asia and was first discovered in the United States in Camden, New Jersey in 1878. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Flower(s); Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Gary L. Piper, Washington State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org Alternative content
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 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. Alternative content
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| U.S. National Parks where reported invasive: |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota) Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) |
