471 Species in Genus Cirsium

The Allure of Thistles: A Deep Dive into the Cirsium Genus

I’ve always been drawn to the unexpected beauty found in nature’s underdogs. Those overlooked, often prickly characters that possess a unique charm. That’s why I find myself captivated by the Cirsium genus, better known as plume thistles. These resilient plants, often dismissed as mere weeds, boast a fascinating complexity and an understated elegance that I find truly remarkable.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Thistles? Aren’t those just prickly nuisances?” And while some might see them that way, I see them as symbols of resilience, thriving in harsh conditions where other plants struggle to survive. Their vibrant blooms, typically shades of purple, pink, or even yellow, provide a splash of color in otherwise barren landscapes. But their beauty goes beyond just aesthetics.

The Cirsium genus belongs to the Asteraceae family, a massive group that includes sunflowers and daisies. What sets plume thistles apart are their distinctive feathery pappus, a collection of hairs attached to their seeds that aids in wind dispersal. This ingenious adaptation allows them to colonize new areas with remarkable efficiency.

A Diverse and Widespread Family

The Cirsium genus is incredibly diverse, with estimates 471 species found across the globe. They’ve adapted to a wide range of habitats, from coastal dunes to alpine meadows, demonstrating their remarkable resilience and adaptability. Here are just a few examples of the many fascinating species within this genus:

  1. Cirsium × abetonense E.Michálk. & Bureš
  2. Cirsium acantholepis Petr.
  3. Cirsium acaulon (L.) Scop.
  4. Cirsium acrolepis (Petr.) G.B.Ownbey
  5. Cirsium × affine Tausch
  6. Cirsium aidzuense Nakai ex Kitam.
  7. Cirsium akimontanum Kadota
  8. Cirsium akimotoi Kadota & Mas.Saito
  9. Cirsium alatum (S.G.Gmel.) Bobrov
  10. Cirsium alberti Regel & Schmalh.
  11. Cirsium albowianum Sommier & Levier
  12. Cirsium × alpestre Nägeli
  13. Cirsium alpicola Nakai
  14. Cirsium alpis-lunae Brilli-Catt. & L.Gubellini
  15. Cirsium alsophilum (Pollini) Soldano
  16. Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng. – Plant FAQs: Cirsium Altissimum – Tall Thistle
  17. Cirsium × ambiguum All.
  18. Cirsium amplexifolium (Nakai) Kitam.
  19. Cirsium anartiolepis Petr.
  20. Cirsium andersonii Petr.
  21. Cirsium andrewsii Jeps.
  22. Cirsium aomorense Nakai
  23. Cirsium apoense Nakai
  24. Cirsium appendiculatum Griseb.
  25. Cirsium arctorhaphis G.L.Nesom
  26. Cirsium argyracanthum DC.
  27. Cirsium arisanense Kitam.
  28. Cirsium arizonicum (A.Gray) Petr.
  29. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. – Plant FAQs: Cirsium Arvense
  30. Cirsium × aschersonii Čelak.
  31. Cirsium ashinokuraense Kadota
  32. Cirsium ashiuense Shun.Yokoy. & T.Shimizu
  33. Cirsium × ausserdorferi Hausm. ex Treuinf.
  34. Cirsium austrohidakaense Kadota
  35. Cirsium ayasii H.Duman & Dirmenci
  36. Cirsium babanum Koidz.
  37. Cirsium badakhschanicum Kharadze
  38. Cirsium barnebyi S.L.Welsh & Neese
  39. Cirsium basaseachense G.L.Nesom
  40. Cirsium bertolonii Spreng.
  41. Cirsium bicentenariale Rzed.
  42. Cirsium × bifrons Arv.-Touv.
  43. Cirsium × bipontinum F.W.Schultz
  44. Cirsium bitchuense Nakai
  45. Cirsium bocoynense G.L.Nesom
  46. Cirsium boninense Koidz.
  47. Cirsium borealinipponense Kitam.
  48. Cirsium × boulayi E.G.Camus
  49. Cirsium × bourgaeanum Willk.
  50. Cirsium brachycephalum Juratzka
  51. Cirsium bracteiferum C.Shih
  52. Cirsium × braun-blanquetianum Lawalrée
  53. Cirsium × breunium Goller & Huter
  54. Cirsium brevicaule A.Gray
  55. Cirsium brevifolium Nutt.
  56. Cirsium brevipapposum Tschern.
  57. Cirsium × breviscapum Eichenf.
  58. Cirsium brevistylum Cronquist
  59. Cirsium buergeri Miq.
  60. Cirsium calcareum (M.E.Jones) Wooton & Standl.
  61. Cirsium candelabrum Griseb.
  62. Cirsium × candolleanum Nägeli
  63. Cirsium canescens Nutt.
  64. Cirsium canoasense G.L.Nesom
  65. Cirsium canum (L.) All.
  66. Cirsium carniolicum Scop.
  67. Cirsium carolinianum (Walter) Fernald & B.G.Schub.
  68. Cirsium × celakovskyanum K.Knaf
  69. Cirsium centaureae (Rydb.) K.Schum.
  70. Cirsium cernuum Lag.
  71. Cirsium charkeviczii Barkalov
  72. Cirsium × chatenieri Legrand ex H.J.Coste
  73. Cirsium chellyense R.J.Moore & Frankton
  74. Cirsium chiapanum G.L.Nesom
  75. Cirsium chikabumiense Kadota
  76. Cirsium chikushiense Koidz.
  77. Cirsium chilaishanense S.S.Ying
  78. Cirsium chinense Gardner & Champ.
  79. Cirsium chionanthum G.L.Nesom & García-Mor.
  80. Cirsium chokaiense Kitam.
  81. Cirsium chrysacanthum (Ball) Jahand.
  82. Cirsium cilicicum P.H.Davis & Parris
  83. Cirsium ciliolatum (L.F.Hend.) J.T.Howell
  84. Cirsium clavatum (M.E.Jones) Petr.
  85. Cirsium clokeyi S.F.Blake
  86. Cirsium coahuilense Ownbey & Pinkava
  87. Cirsium coloradense (Rydb.) Cockerell ex Daniels
  88. Cirsium confertissimum Nakai
  89. Cirsium congdonii R.J.Moore & Frankton
  90. Cirsium congestissimum Kitam.
  91. Cirsium × connexum Kitam.
  92. Cirsium consociatum S.F.Blake
  93. Cirsium conspicuum Sch.Bip.
  94. Cirsium crassicaule Jeps.
  95. Cirsium creticum (Lam.) d’Urv.
  96. Cirsium × csepeliense Borbás
  97. Cirsium culebraense Ackerf.
  98. Cirsium cymosum (Greene) J.T.Howell
  99. Cirsium dasyphyllum G.L.Nesom
  100. Cirsium dealbatum M.Bieb.
  101. Cirsium dipsacolepis Matsum.
  102. Cirsium discolor (Muhl. ex Willd.) Spreng. – Plant FAQs: Cirsium Discolor – Pale Thistle – Yellow Thistle
  103. Cirsium dissectum (L.) Hill
  104. Cirsium × dominii M.Schulze
  105. Cirsium domonii Kadota
  106. Cirsium douglasii DC.
  107. Cirsium drummondii Torr. & A.Gray
  108. Cirsium ducellieri Maire
  109. Cirsium durangense (Greenm.) G.B.Ownbey
  110. Cirsium dyris Jahand. & Maire
  111. Cirsium eatonii (A.Gray) B.L.Rob.
  112. Cirsium echinus (M.Bieb.) Hand.-Mazz.
  113. Cirsium edule Nutt.
  114. Cirsium ehrenbergii Sch.Bip.
  115. Cirsium elbrusense Sommier & Levier
  116. Cirsium eliasianum Kit Tan & Sorger
  117. Cirsium elodes M.Bieb.
  118. Cirsium engelmannii Rydb.
  119. Cirsium eorythros G.L.Nesom
  120. Cirsium epiroticum Petr.
  121. Cirsium eriophoroides (Hook.f.) Petr.
  122. Cirsium erisithales (Jacq.) Scop.
  123. Cirsium × erisithaliforme Preissm.
  124. Cirsium × erucagineum (Lam.) DC.
  125. Cirsium esculentum (Siev.) C.A.Mey.
  126. Cirsium excelsius Petr.
  127. Cirsium × fabium Porta ex Kern.
  128. Cirsium falconeri (Hook.f.) Petr.
  129. Cirsium fanjingshanense C.Shih
  130. Cirsium fargesii (Franch.) Diels
  131. Cirsium faucium Petr.
  132. Cirsium fauriei Nakai
  133. Cirsium ferum Kitam.
  134. Cirsium filipendulum Lange
  135. Cirsium flavisquamatum Kitam.
  136. Cirsium flodmanii Arthur
  137. Cirsium foliosum DC.
  138. Cirsium fontinale Jeps.
  139. Cirsium forrestii (Diels) H.Lév.
  140. Cirsium × forsteri (Sm.) Loudon
  141. Cirsium × freyerianum W.D.J.Koch
  142. Cirsium funagataense Kadota
  143. Cirsium funkiae Ackerf.
  144. Cirsium furusei Kitam.
  145. Cirsium fuscotrichum C.C.Chang
  146. Cirsium gaditanum Talavera & Valdés
  147. Cirsium ganjuense Kitam.
  148. Cirsium glaberrimum (Petr.) Petr.
  149. Cirsium × glabrifolium (C.Winkl.) Petr.
  150. Cirsium glabrum DC.
  151. Cirsium grahamii A.Gray
  152. Cirsium gratiosum Kitam.
  153. Cirsium grayanum (Maxim.) Nakai
  154. Cirsium greimleri Bureš
  155. Cirsium griffithii Boiss.
  156. Cirsium griseum (Rydb.) K.Schum.
  157. Cirsium × grossheimii Petr.
  158. Cirsium guanwuense S.S.Ying
  159. Cirsium gyojanum Kitam.
  160. Cirsium hachijoense Nakai
  161. Cirsium hachimantaiense Kadota
  162. Cirsium hagurosanense Kadota
  163. Cirsium handelii Petr.
  164. Cirsium happoense Kadota
  165. Cirsium harrisonii (S.L.Welsh) Ackerf. & D.J.Keil
  166. Cirsium hasunumae Kadota
  167. Cirsium × heerianum Nägeli
  168. Cirsium heiianum Koidz.
  169. Cirsium helenioides (L.) Hill
  170. Cirsium heliorhaphis G.L.Nesom
  171. Cirsium henryi (Franch.) Diels
  172. Cirsium hesperium (Eastw.) Rydb.
  173. Cirsium heterophyllum (L.) Hill
  174. Cirsium heterotrichum Pančić
  175. Cirsium × heuseri Uechtr.
  176. Cirsium hida-paludosum Kadota & Nagase
  177. Cirsium hidakamontanum Kadota
  178. Cirsium hidalgoense G.L.Nesom
  179. Cirsium homolepis Nakai
  180. Cirsium hookerianum Nutt.
  181. Cirsium horiianum Kadota
  182. Cirsium horridulum Michx. – Plant FAQs: Cirsium Horridulum – Bristly Thistle
  183. Cirsium hupingshanicum Z.C.Jin & Y.S.Chen
  184. Cirsium × hybridum W.D.J.Koch ex DC.
  185. Cirsium hydrophilum Jeps.
  186. Cirsium hygrophilum Boiss.
  187. Cirsium hygropodum G.L.Nesom
  188. Cirsium hypoleucum DC.
  189. Cirsium × iburiense Kitam.
  190. Cirsium imbricatum Petr.
  191. Cirsium inamoenum (Greene) D.J.Keil
  192. Cirsium inundatum Makino
  193. Cirsium ishizuchiense (Kitam.) Kadota
  194. Cirsium × ispolatovii Iljin ex Tzvelev
  195. Cirsium ito-kojianum Kadota
  196. Cirsium jaliscoense G.L.Nesom
  197. Cirsium japonicum DC.
  198. Cirsium joannae S.L.Welsh, N.D.Atwood & L.C.Higgins
  199. Cirsium jorullense Spreng.
  200. Cirsium × juratzkae Reichardt
  201. Cirsium kagamontanum Nakai
  202. Cirsium kamtschaticum Ledeb. ex DC.
  203. Cirsium kasaianum Kadota
  204. Cirsium katoanum Kadota
  205. Cirsium kenji-horieanum Kadota
  206. Cirsium kirishimense Kadota & Mas.Saito
  207. Cirsium × kirschlegeri Sch.Bip.
  208. Cirsium kisoense (T.Yamaz. & K.Asano) Kadota
  209. Cirsium komarovii Schischk.
  210. Cirsium × kornhuberi Heimerl
  211. Cirsium × kozlovskyi Petr.
  212. Cirsium kubikialpicola Kadota
  213. Cirsium kujuense Kadota
  214. Cirsium × lachenalii (C.C.Gmel.) W.D.J.Koch
  215. Cirsium × lanseriae Murr
  216. Cirsium lappoides Sch.Bip.
  217. Cirsium latifolium Lowe
  218. Cirsium lecontei Torr. & A.Gray
  219. Cirsium leducii H.Lév.
  220. Cirsium leo Nakai & Kitag.
  221. Cirsium leucopsis DC.
  222. Cirsium libanoticum DC.
  223. Cirsium lineare (Thunb.) Sch.Bip.
  224. Cirsium × linkianum M.Loehr
  225. Cirsium × lojkae Sommier & Levier
  226. Cirsium lomatolepis Petr.
  227. Cirsium loncholepis Petr.
  228. Cirsium longepedunculatum Kitam.
  229. Cirsium longistylum R.J.Moore & Frankton
  230. Cirsium lucens Kitam.
  231. Cirsium luzoniense Merr.
  232. Cirsium maackii Maxim.
  233. Cirsium macvaughii G.L.Nesom
  234. Cirsium magdalenense G.L.Nesom
  235. Cirsium magofukui Kitam.
  236. Cirsium mairei Halácsy
  237. Cirsium maritimum Makino
  238. Cirsium markaguntense (S.L.Welsh) Ackerf. & D.J.Keil
  239. Cirsium × martini L.C.Lamb.
  240. Cirsium maruyamanum Kitam.
  241. Cirsium masami-saitoanum Kadota
  242. Cirsium matsumurae Nakai
  243. Cirsium × mazanderanicum Petr.
  244. Cirsium × medium All.
  245. Cirsium × meratii P.Fourn.
  246. Cirsium mexicanum DC.
  247. Cirsium michiliense G.L.Nesom
  248. Cirsium microspicatum Nakai
  249. Cirsium mimbresense G.L.Nesom
  250. Cirsium × mirabile Kitam.
  251. Cirsium × misawaense Nakai ex Kitam.
  252. Cirsium mohavense (Greene) Petr.
  253. Cirsium mollissimum G.L.Nesom
  254. Cirsium monocephalum H.Lév.
  255. Cirsium monspessulanum (L.) Hill.
  256. Cirsium × moravicum Petr.
  257. Cirsium × muellneri Beck
  258. Cirsium muliense C.Shih
  259. Cirsium muramatsui Kadota
  260. Cirsium × murrianum Khek
  261. Cirsium muticum Michx. – Plant FAQs: Cirsium Muticum – Marsh Thistle
  262. Cirsium myokoense Kadota
  263. Cirsium nagatoense Kadota
  264. Cirsium nagisoense Kadota
  265. Cirsium nambuense Nakai
  266. Cirsium nanhutashanense S.S.Ying
  267. Cirsium nasuense Kadota
  268. Cirsium neomexicanum A.Gray
  269. Cirsium × nevadense Willk.
  270. Cirsium nigriceps Standl. & Steyerm.
  271. Cirsium nippoense Kadota
  272. Cirsium nipponicum Makino
  273. Cirsium nivale (Kunth) F.Dietr.
  274. Cirsium norikurense Nakai
  275. Cirsium × norrisii C.Bicknell
  276. Cirsium notorhaphis G.L.Nesom
  277. Cirsium novoleonense G.L.Nesom & García-Mor.
  278. Cirsium nuttallii DC.
  279. Cirsium oaxacanum G.L.Nesom
  280. Cirsium oblongifolium K.Koch
  281. Cirsium obvallatum (M.Bieb.) M.Bieb.
  282. Cirsium occidentale (Nutt.) Jeps.
  283. Cirsium occidentalinipponense Kadota
  284. Cirsium ochrocentrum A.Gray
  285. Cirsium × ochroleucum All.
  286. Cirsium ohminense Kadota
  287. Cirsium okamotoi Kitam.
  288. Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop.
  289. Cirsium oligophyllum Matsum.
  290. Cirsium opacum (Kitam.) Kadota
  291. Cirsium orizabense Klatt
  292. Cirsium otayae Kitam.
  293. Cirsium ownbeyi S.L.Welsh
  294. Cirsium pablillo G.L.Nesom
  295. Cirsium pacificum G.L.Nesom
  296. Cirsium palustre (L.) Scop.
  297. Cirsium pannonicum (L.f.) Link
  298. Cirsium parryi Petr.
  299. Cirsium pascuarense (Kunth) Spreng.
  300. Cirsium × patens Kitam.
  301. Cirsium peckii L.F.Hend.
  302. Cirsium pectinellum A.Gray
  303. Cirsium pendulum Fisch. ex DC.
  304. Cirsium periacanthaceum C.Shih
  305. Cirsium perplexans Petr.
  306. Cirsium × perplexissimum Kitam.
  307. Cirsium phulchokiense Kitam.
  308. Cirsium × pilosum Kitam.
  309. Cirsium pinetorum Greenm.
  310. Cirsium pitcheri Torr. & A.Gray
  311. Cirsium pitouchaoense S.S.Ying
  312. Cirsium × praealpinum Beck
  313. Cirsium praeteriens J.F.Macbr.
  314. Cirsium × prativagum Petr.
  315. Cirsium pringlei Petr.
  316. Cirsium × przybylskii Eichenf.
  317. Cirsium pseudocreticum (P.H.Davis & Parris) Yıldız, Dirmenci & Arabacı
  318. Cirsium pseudopersonata Boiss. & Balansa
  319. Cirsium pseudosuffultum Kadota
  320. Cirsium × pskemense Lazkov
  321. Cirsium pubigerum (Desf.) DC.
  322. Cirsium pulchellum Wooton & Standl.
  323. Cirsium pulcherrimum (Rydb.) K.Schum.
  324. Cirsium pumilum Spreng.
  325. Cirsium purpuratum Matsum.
  326. Cirsium × purpureum All.
  327. Cirsium pyrenaicum (Jacq.) All.
  328. Cirsium quercetorum (A.Gray) Jeps.
  329. Cirsium racemiforme Y.Ling & C.Shih
  330. Cirsium radians Benth.
  331. Cirsium rassulovii B.A.Sharipova
  332. Cirsium reglense Sch.Bip. ex Klatt
  333. Cirsium × reichardtii Jurotzka
  334. Cirsium × reichenbachianum M.Loehr
  335. Cirsium remotifolium DC.
  336. Cirsium rengehydrophilum Kadota
  337. Cirsium repandum Michx.
  338. Cirsium rhabdotolepis Petr.
  339. Cirsium rhaphilepis Petr.
  340. Cirsium rhinoceros Nakai
  341. Cirsium rhizocephalum C.A.Mey.
  342. Cirsium rhothophilum S.F.Blake
  343. Cirsium × rigens Wallr.
  344. Cirsium rivulare (Jacq.) All.
  345. Cirsium roseolum Gorl.
  346. Cirsium rosulatum Talavera & Valdés
  347. Cirsium rupinarum G.L.Nesom
  348. Cirsium rydbergii Petr.
  349. Cirsium × sabaudum M.Loehr
  350. Cirsium × sagrense E.Michálk. & Bureš
  351. Cirsium sairamense O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch.
  352. Cirsium scapanolepis Petr.
  353. Cirsium scariosum Nutt.
  354. Cirsium schantarense Trautv. & C.A.Mey.
  355. Cirsium × scopolii Khek
  356. Cirsium scopulorum (Greene) Cockerell
  357. Cirsium semenowii Regel
  358. Cirsium × semidecurrens DC.
  359. Cirsium senjoense Kitam.
  360. Cirsium × sennenii Rouy
  361. Cirsium serratuloides (L.) Hill
  362. Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai
  363. Cirsium shansiense Petr.
  364. Cirsium shidokimontanum Kadota
  365. Cirsium shihianum Greuter
  366. Cirsium shimae Kadota
  367. Cirsium shinanense Shimizu
  368. Cirsium sichuanense Z.C.Jin & Y.S.Chen
  369. Cirsium sidi-guinii Pau & Font Quer
  370. Cirsium sieboldii Miq.
  371. Cirsium × siegertii Sch.Bip. ex Reichardt
  372. Cirsium sieversii (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Petr.
  373. Cirsium × silesiacum Sch.Bip.
  374. Cirsium simplex C.A.Mey.
  375. Cirsium skutchii S.F.Blake
  376. Cirsium × soroksarense Wagner
  377. Cirsium souliei (Franch.) Mattf. ex Rehder & Kobuski
  378. Cirsium spicatum Matsum.
  379. Cirsium spinosissimum (L.) Scop.
  380. Cirsium spinosum Kitam.
  381. Cirsium stiriacum Fritsch
  382. Cirsium stojanovii Kuzmanov
  383. Cirsium × stroblii Hayek
  384. Cirsium × subalpinum Gaudin
  385. Cirsium subcoriaceum (Less.) Sch.Bip.
  386. Cirsium subinerme Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
  387. Cirsium × subspinuligerum Peterm.
  388. Cirsium subuliforme G.B.Ownbey
  389. Cirsium × sudae E.Michálk. & Bureš
  390. Cirsium suffultum Matsum.
  391. Cirsium × sugimotoi Kitam.
  392. Cirsium × suspiciosum Beck
  393. Cirsium suzukaense Kitam.
  394. Cirsium suzukii Kitam.
  395. Cirsium svaneticum Sommier & Levier
  396. Cirsium swaticum Petr.
  397. Cirsium sychnosanthum Petr.
  398. Cirsium taiwanense Y.H.Tseng & Chih Y.Chang
  399. Cirsium takahashii Kadota
  400. Cirsium taliense (Jeffrey) H.Lév.
  401. Cirsium tamastoloniferum Kadota
  402. Cirsium tancitaroense G.L.Nesom
  403. Cirsium tanegashimense Kitam. ex Kadota
  404. Cirsium tashiroi Kitam.
  405. Cirsium tatakaense Y.H.Tseng, Y.H.Tseng, Chih Y.Chang & C.Y.Chang
  406. Cirsium × tataricum (L.) DC.
  407. Cirsium tenorioanum G.L.Nesom
  408. Cirsium tenue Kitam.
  409. Cirsium tenuipedunculatum Kadota
  410. Cirsium tenuisquamatum Kitam.
  411. Cirsium tepehuanense G.L.Nesom
  412. Cirsium teshioense Kadota
  413. Cirsium texanum Buckley
  414. Cirsium × thomasii Nägeli
  415. Cirsium tianmushanicum C.Shih
  416. Cirsium tioganum (Congdon) Petr.
  417. Cirsium togaense Kadota
  418. Cirsium tolucanum Petr.
  419. Cirsium townsendii (Petr.) G.L.Nesom
  420. Cirsium toyoshimae Koidz.
  421. Cirsium trachylomum S.F.Blake
  422. Cirsium tracyi (Rydb.) Petr.
  423. Cirsium tuberosum (L.) All.
  424. Cirsium tukuhnikivatzicum Ackerf.
  425. Cirsium turneri Warnock
  426. Cirsium tweedyi (Rydb.) Rydb.
  427. Cirsium tymphaeum Hausskn.
  428. Cirsium uetsuense Kitam.
  429. Cirsium ugoense Nakai
  430. Cirsium uliginosum (M.Bieb.) Fisch.
  431. Cirsium umezawanum Kadota
  432. Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng.
  433. Cirsium unzenense Kadota & Mas.Saito
  434. Cirsium uzenense Kadota
  435. Cirsium valdespinulosum (Sennen) Sennen
  436. Cirsium valentinum Porta
  437. Cirsium × vancouverense R.J.Moore & Frankton
  438. Cirsium velatum (S.Watson) Petr.
  439. Cirsium vergelense G.L.Nesom
  440. Cirsium vernonioides C.Shih
  441. Cirsium verum Kadota
  442. Cirsium vinaceum Wooton & Standl.
  443. Cirsium viperinum (D.J.Keil) Ackerf. & D.J.Keil
  444. Cirsium virginianum Michx.
  445. Cirsium viridifolium (Hand.-Mazz.) C.Shih
  446. Cirsium × vivantii L.Villar, Segarra, J.López, Pérez-Coll. & Catalán
  447. Cirsium vlassovianum Fisch. ex DC.
  448. Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. – Plant FAQs: Cirsium Vulgare – Bull Thistle
  449. Cirsium wakasugianum Kadota
  450. Cirsium waldsteinii Rouy
  451. Cirsium wallichii DC.
  452. Cirsium × wankelii Reichardt
  453. Cirsium welwitschii Coss.
  454. Cirsium × wettsteinii Petr.
  455. Cirsium wheeleri (A.Gray) Petr.
  456. Cirsium × wiedermannii Khek
  457. Cirsium × winklerianum Čelak.
  458. Cirsium × woodwardii (H.C.Watson) Nyman
  459. Cirsium × woronowii Petr.
  460. Cirsium wrightii A.Gray
  461. Cirsium yachiyotakashimae Kadota
  462. Cirsium yakusimense Masam.
  463. Cirsium yamauchii Kadota
  464. Cirsium yatsu-alpicola Kadota & Y.Amano
  465. Cirsium yezoalpinum H.Koidz. ex Kadota & S.Umezawa
  466. Cirsium yezoense (Maxim.) Makino
  467. Cirsium yoshidae Kadota
  468. Cirsium yuki-uenoanum Kadota
  469. Cirsium yuzawae Kadota
  470. Cirsium zamoranense Rzed.
  471. Cirsium zawoense Kadota

More Than Just a Prickly Weed

While often considered weeds, plume thistles play a vital role in their ecosystems. Their nectar-rich flowers are a valuable food source for a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Their seeds also provide sustenance for birds, particularly finches.

Beyond their ecological importance, some Cirsium species have a history of human use. The young leaves and shoots of certain species are edible and can be cooked like spinach. Traditional medicine has also utilized various thistle species for their purported medicinal properties, though more research is needed to confirm their efficacy.

Appreciating the Underappreciated

In a world that often favors the showy and the conventional, I find myself drawn to the unconventional beauty of plume thistles. Their resilience, adaptability, and ecological importance make them far more than just prickly weeds. They are a testament to the tenacity of life and a reminder that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.

As I continue to explore the natural world, I’ll undoubtedly encounter more fascinating members of the Cirsium genus. And each encounter will serve as a reminder to appreciate the often-overlooked wonders that surround us.

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