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:
- Cirsium × abetonense E.Michálk. & Bureš
- Cirsium acantholepis Petr.
- Cirsium acaulon (L.) Scop.
- Cirsium acrolepis (Petr.) G.B.Ownbey
- Cirsium × affine Tausch
- Cirsium aidzuense Nakai ex Kitam.
- Cirsium akimontanum Kadota
- Cirsium akimotoi Kadota & Mas.Saito
- Cirsium alatum (S.G.Gmel.) Bobrov
- Cirsium alberti Regel & Schmalh.
- Cirsium albowianum Sommier & Levier
- Cirsium × alpestre Nägeli
- Cirsium alpicola Nakai
- Cirsium alpis-lunae Brilli-Catt. & L.Gubellini
- Cirsium alsophilum (Pollini) Soldano
- Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
- Cirsium × ambiguum All.
- Cirsium amplexifolium (Nakai) Kitam.
- Cirsium anartiolepis Petr.
- Cirsium andersonii Petr.
- Cirsium andrewsii Jeps.
- Cirsium aomorense Nakai
- Cirsium apoense Nakai
- Cirsium appendiculatum Griseb.
- Cirsium arctorhaphis G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium argyracanthum DC.
- Cirsium arisanense Kitam.
- Cirsium arizonicum (A.Gray) Petr.
- Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.
- Cirsium × aschersonii Čelak.
- Cirsium ashinokuraense Kadota
- Cirsium ashiuense Shun.Yokoy. & T.Shimizu
- Cirsium × ausserdorferi Hausm. ex Treuinf.
- Cirsium austrohidakaense Kadota
- Cirsium ayasii H.Duman & Dirmenci
- Cirsium babanum Koidz.
- Cirsium badakhschanicum Kharadze
- Cirsium barnebyi S.L.Welsh & Neese
- Cirsium basaseachense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium bertolonii Spreng.
- Cirsium bicentenariale Rzed.
- Cirsium × bifrons Arv.-Touv.
- Cirsium × bipontinum F.W.Schultz
- Cirsium bitchuense Nakai
- Cirsium bocoynense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium boninense Koidz.
- Cirsium borealinipponense Kitam.
- Cirsium × boulayi E.G.Camus
- Cirsium × bourgaeanum Willk.
- Cirsium brachycephalum Juratzka
- Cirsium bracteiferum C.Shih
- Cirsium × braun-blanquetianum Lawalrée
- Cirsium × breunium Goller & Huter
- Cirsium brevicaule A.Gray
- Cirsium brevifolium Nutt.
- Cirsium brevipapposum Tschern.
- Cirsium × breviscapum Eichenf.
- Cirsium brevistylum Cronquist
- Cirsium buergeri Miq.
- Cirsium calcareum (M.E.Jones) Wooton & Standl.
- Cirsium candelabrum Griseb.
- Cirsium × candolleanum Nägeli
- Cirsium canescens Nutt.
- Cirsium canoasense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium canum (L.) All.
- Cirsium carniolicum Scop.
- Cirsium carolinianum (Walter) Fernald & B.G.Schub.
- Cirsium × celakovskyanum K.Knaf
- Cirsium centaureae (Rydb.) K.Schum.
- Cirsium cernuum Lag.
- Cirsium charkeviczii Barkalov
- Cirsium × chatenieri Legrand ex H.J.Coste
- Cirsium chellyense R.J.Moore & Frankton
- Cirsium chiapanum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium chikabumiense Kadota
- Cirsium chikushiense Koidz.
- Cirsium chilaishanense S.S.Ying
- Cirsium chinense Gardner & Champ.
- Cirsium chionanthum G.L.Nesom & García-Mor.
- Cirsium chokaiense Kitam.
- Cirsium chrysacanthum (Ball) Jahand.
- Cirsium cilicicum P.H.Davis & Parris
- Cirsium ciliolatum (L.F.Hend.) J.T.Howell
- Cirsium clavatum (M.E.Jones) Petr.
- Cirsium clokeyi S.F.Blake
- Cirsium coahuilense Ownbey & Pinkava
- Cirsium coloradense (Rydb.) Cockerell ex Daniels
- Cirsium confertissimum Nakai
- Cirsium congdonii R.J.Moore & Frankton
- Cirsium congestissimum Kitam.
- Cirsium × connexum Kitam.
- Cirsium consociatum S.F.Blake
- Cirsium conspicuum Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium crassicaule Jeps.
- Cirsium creticum (Lam.) d’Urv.
- Cirsium × csepeliense Borbás
- Cirsium culebraense Ackerf.
- Cirsium cymosum (Greene) J.T.Howell
- Cirsium dasyphyllum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium dealbatum M.Bieb.
- Cirsium dipsacolepis Matsum.
- Cirsium discolor (Muhl. ex Willd.) Spreng.
- Cirsium dissectum (L.) Hill
- Cirsium × dominii M.Schulze
- Cirsium domonii Kadota
- Cirsium douglasii DC.
- Cirsium drummondii Torr. & A.Gray
- Cirsium ducellieri Maire
- Cirsium durangense (Greenm.) G.B.Ownbey
- Cirsium dyris Jahand. & Maire
- Cirsium eatonii (A.Gray) B.L.Rob.
- Cirsium echinus (M.Bieb.) Hand.-Mazz.
- Cirsium edule Nutt.
- Cirsium ehrenbergii Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium elbrusense Sommier & Levier
- Cirsium eliasianum Kit Tan & Sorger
- Cirsium elodes M.Bieb.
- Cirsium engelmannii Rydb.
- Cirsium eorythros G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium epiroticum Petr.
- Cirsium eriophoroides (Hook.f.) Petr.
- Cirsium erisithales (Jacq.) Scop.
- Cirsium × erisithaliforme Preissm.
- Cirsium × erucagineum (Lam.) DC.
- Cirsium esculentum (Siev.) C.A.Mey.
- Cirsium excelsius Petr.
- Cirsium × fabium Porta ex Kern.
- Cirsium falconeri (Hook.f.) Petr.
- Cirsium fanjingshanense C.Shih
- Cirsium fargesii (Franch.) Diels
- Cirsium faucium Petr.
- Cirsium fauriei Nakai
- Cirsium ferum Kitam.
- Cirsium filipendulum Lange
- Cirsium flavisquamatum Kitam.
- Cirsium flodmanii Arthur
- Cirsium foliosum DC.
- Cirsium fontinale Jeps.
- Cirsium forrestii (Diels) H.Lév.
- Cirsium × forsteri (Sm.) Loudon
- Cirsium × freyerianum W.D.J.Koch
- Cirsium funagataense Kadota
- Cirsium funkiae Ackerf.
- Cirsium furusei Kitam.
- Cirsium fuscotrichum C.C.Chang
- Cirsium gaditanum Talavera & Valdés
- Cirsium ganjuense Kitam.
- Cirsium glaberrimum (Petr.) Petr.
- Cirsium × glabrifolium (C.Winkl.) Petr.
- Cirsium glabrum DC.
- Cirsium grahamii A.Gray
- Cirsium gratiosum Kitam.
- Cirsium grayanum (Maxim.) Nakai
- Cirsium greimleri Bureš
- Cirsium griffithii Boiss.
- Cirsium griseum (Rydb.) K.Schum.
- Cirsium × grossheimii Petr.
- Cirsium guanwuense S.S.Ying
- Cirsium gyojanum Kitam.
- Cirsium hachijoense Nakai
- Cirsium hachimantaiense Kadota
- Cirsium hagurosanense Kadota
- Cirsium handelii Petr.
- Cirsium happoense Kadota
- Cirsium harrisonii (S.L.Welsh) Ackerf. & D.J.Keil
- Cirsium hasunumae Kadota
- Cirsium × heerianum Nägeli
- Cirsium heiianum Koidz.
- Cirsium helenioides (L.) Hill
- Cirsium heliorhaphis G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium henryi (Franch.) Diels
- Cirsium hesperium (Eastw.) Rydb.
- Cirsium heterophyllum (L.) Hill
- Cirsium heterotrichum Pančić
- Cirsium × heuseri Uechtr.
- Cirsium hida-paludosum Kadota & Nagase
- Cirsium hidakamontanum Kadota
- Cirsium hidalgoense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium homolepis Nakai
- Cirsium hookerianum Nutt.
- Cirsium horiianum Kadota
- Cirsium horridulum Michx.
- Cirsium hupingshanicum Z.C.Jin & Y.S.Chen
- Cirsium × hybridum W.D.J.Koch ex DC.
- Cirsium hydrophilum Jeps.
- Cirsium hygrophilum Boiss.
- Cirsium hygropodum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium hypoleucum DC.
- Cirsium × iburiense Kitam.
- Cirsium imbricatum Petr.
- Cirsium inamoenum (Greene) D.J.Keil
- Cirsium inundatum Makino
- Cirsium ishizuchiense (Kitam.) Kadota
- Cirsium × ispolatovii Iljin ex Tzvelev
- Cirsium ito-kojianum Kadota
- Cirsium jaliscoense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium japonicum DC.
- Cirsium joannae S.L.Welsh, N.D.Atwood & L.C.Higgins
- Cirsium jorullense Spreng.
- Cirsium × juratzkae Reichardt
- Cirsium kagamontanum Nakai
- Cirsium kamtschaticum Ledeb. ex DC.
- Cirsium kasaianum Kadota
- Cirsium katoanum Kadota
- Cirsium kenji-horieanum Kadota
- Cirsium kirishimense Kadota & Mas.Saito
- Cirsium × kirschlegeri Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium kisoense (T.Yamaz. & K.Asano) Kadota
- Cirsium komarovii Schischk.
- Cirsium × kornhuberi Heimerl
- Cirsium × kozlovskyi Petr.
- Cirsium kubikialpicola Kadota
- Cirsium kujuense Kadota
- Cirsium × lachenalii (C.C.Gmel.) W.D.J.Koch
- Cirsium × lanseriae Murr
- Cirsium lappoides Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium latifolium Lowe
- Cirsium lecontei Torr. & A.Gray
- Cirsium leducii H.Lév.
- Cirsium leo Nakai & Kitag.
- Cirsium leucopsis DC.
- Cirsium libanoticum DC.
- Cirsium lineare (Thunb.) Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium × linkianum M.Loehr
- Cirsium × lojkae Sommier & Levier
- Cirsium lomatolepis Petr.
- Cirsium loncholepis Petr.
- Cirsium longepedunculatum Kitam.
- Cirsium longistylum R.J.Moore & Frankton
- Cirsium lucens Kitam.
- Cirsium luzoniense Merr.
- Cirsium maackii Maxim.
- Cirsium macvaughii G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium magdalenense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium magofukui Kitam.
- Cirsium mairei Halácsy
- Cirsium maritimum Makino
- Cirsium markaguntense (S.L.Welsh) Ackerf. & D.J.Keil
- Cirsium × martini L.C.Lamb.
- Cirsium maruyamanum Kitam.
- Cirsium masami-saitoanum Kadota
- Cirsium matsumurae Nakai
- Cirsium × mazanderanicum Petr.
- Cirsium × medium All.
- Cirsium × meratii P.Fourn.
- Cirsium mexicanum DC.
- Cirsium michiliense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium microspicatum Nakai
- Cirsium mimbresense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium × mirabile Kitam.
- Cirsium × misawaense Nakai ex Kitam.
- Cirsium mohavense (Greene) Petr.
- Cirsium mollissimum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium monocephalum H.Lév.
- Cirsium monspessulanum (L.) Hill.
- Cirsium × moravicum Petr.
- Cirsium × muellneri Beck
- Cirsium muliense C.Shih
- Cirsium muramatsui Kadota
- Cirsium × murrianum Khek
- Cirsium muticum Michx.
- Cirsium myokoense Kadota
- Cirsium nagatoense Kadota
- Cirsium nagisoense Kadota
- Cirsium nambuense Nakai
- Cirsium nanhutashanense S.S.Ying
- Cirsium nasuense Kadota
- Cirsium neomexicanum A.Gray
- Cirsium × nevadense Willk.
- Cirsium nigriceps Standl. & Steyerm.
- Cirsium nippoense Kadota
- Cirsium nipponicum Makino
- Cirsium nivale (Kunth) F.Dietr.
- Cirsium norikurense Nakai
- Cirsium × norrisii C.Bicknell
- Cirsium notorhaphis G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium novoleonense G.L.Nesom & García-Mor.
- Cirsium nuttallii DC.
- Cirsium oaxacanum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium oblongifolium K.Koch
- Cirsium obvallatum (M.Bieb.) M.Bieb.
- Cirsium occidentale (Nutt.) Jeps.
- Cirsium occidentalinipponense Kadota
- Cirsium ochrocentrum A.Gray
- Cirsium × ochroleucum All.
- Cirsium ohminense Kadota
- Cirsium okamotoi Kitam.
- Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop.
- Cirsium oligophyllum Matsum.
- Cirsium opacum (Kitam.) Kadota
- Cirsium orizabense Klatt
- Cirsium otayae Kitam.
- Cirsium ownbeyi S.L.Welsh
- Cirsium pablillo G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium pacificum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium palustre (L.) Scop.
- Cirsium pannonicum (L.f.) Link
- Cirsium parryi Petr.
- Cirsium pascuarense (Kunth) Spreng.
- Cirsium × patens Kitam.
- Cirsium peckii L.F.Hend.
- Cirsium pectinellum A.Gray
- Cirsium pendulum Fisch. ex DC.
- Cirsium periacanthaceum C.Shih
- Cirsium perplexans Petr.
- Cirsium × perplexissimum Kitam.
- Cirsium phulchokiense Kitam.
- Cirsium × pilosum Kitam.
- Cirsium pinetorum Greenm.
- Cirsium pitcheri Torr. & A.Gray
- Cirsium pitouchaoense S.S.Ying
- Cirsium × praealpinum Beck
- Cirsium praeteriens J.F.Macbr.
- Cirsium × prativagum Petr.
- Cirsium pringlei Petr.
- Cirsium × przybylskii Eichenf.
- Cirsium pseudocreticum (P.H.Davis & Parris) Yıldız, Dirmenci & Arabacı
- Cirsium pseudopersonata Boiss. & Balansa
- Cirsium pseudosuffultum Kadota
- Cirsium × pskemense Lazkov
- Cirsium pubigerum (Desf.) DC.
- Cirsium pulchellum Wooton & Standl.
- Cirsium pulcherrimum (Rydb.) K.Schum.
- Cirsium pumilum Spreng.
- Cirsium purpuratum Matsum.
- Cirsium × purpureum All.
- Cirsium pyrenaicum (Jacq.) All.
- Cirsium quercetorum (A.Gray) Jeps.
- Cirsium racemiforme Y.Ling & C.Shih
- Cirsium radians Benth.
- Cirsium rassulovii B.A.Sharipova
- Cirsium reglense Sch.Bip. ex Klatt
- Cirsium × reichardtii Jurotzka
- Cirsium × reichenbachianum M.Loehr
- Cirsium remotifolium DC.
- Cirsium rengehydrophilum Kadota
- Cirsium repandum Michx.
- Cirsium rhabdotolepis Petr.
- Cirsium rhaphilepis Petr.
- Cirsium rhinoceros Nakai
- Cirsium rhizocephalum C.A.Mey.
- Cirsium rhothophilum S.F.Blake
- Cirsium × rigens Wallr.
- Cirsium rivulare (Jacq.) All.
- Cirsium roseolum Gorl.
- Cirsium rosulatum Talavera & Valdés
- Cirsium rupinarum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium rydbergii Petr.
- Cirsium × sabaudum M.Loehr
- Cirsium × sagrense E.Michálk. & Bureš
- Cirsium sairamense O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch.
- Cirsium scapanolepis Petr.
- Cirsium scariosum Nutt.
- Cirsium schantarense Trautv. & C.A.Mey.
- Cirsium × scopolii Khek
- Cirsium scopulorum (Greene) Cockerell
- Cirsium semenowii Regel
- Cirsium × semidecurrens DC.
- Cirsium senjoense Kitam.
- Cirsium × sennenii Rouy
- Cirsium serratuloides (L.) Hill
- Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai
- Cirsium shansiense Petr.
- Cirsium shidokimontanum Kadota
- Cirsium shihianum Greuter
- Cirsium shimae Kadota
- Cirsium shinanense Shimizu
- Cirsium sichuanense Z.C.Jin & Y.S.Chen
- Cirsium sidi-guinii Pau & Font Quer
- Cirsium sieboldii Miq.
- Cirsium × siegertii Sch.Bip. ex Reichardt
- Cirsium sieversii (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) Petr.
- Cirsium × silesiacum Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium simplex C.A.Mey.
- Cirsium skutchii S.F.Blake
- Cirsium × soroksarense Wagner
- Cirsium souliei (Franch.) Mattf. ex Rehder & Kobuski
- Cirsium spicatum Matsum.
- Cirsium spinosissimum (L.) Scop.
- Cirsium spinosum Kitam.
- Cirsium stiriacum Fritsch
- Cirsium stojanovii Kuzmanov
- Cirsium × stroblii Hayek
- Cirsium × subalpinum Gaudin
- Cirsium subcoriaceum (Less.) Sch.Bip.
- Cirsium subinerme Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Cirsium × subspinuligerum Peterm.
- Cirsium subuliforme G.B.Ownbey
- Cirsium × sudae E.Michálk. & Bureš
- Cirsium suffultum Matsum.
- Cirsium × sugimotoi Kitam.
- Cirsium × suspiciosum Beck
- Cirsium suzukaense Kitam.
- Cirsium suzukii Kitam.
- Cirsium svaneticum Sommier & Levier
- Cirsium swaticum Petr.
- Cirsium sychnosanthum Petr.
- Cirsium taiwanense Y.H.Tseng & Chih Y.Chang
- Cirsium takahashii Kadota
- Cirsium taliense (Jeffrey) H.Lév.
- Cirsium tamastoloniferum Kadota
- Cirsium tancitaroense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium tanegashimense Kitam. ex Kadota
- Cirsium tashiroi Kitam.
- Cirsium tatakaense Y.H.Tseng, Y.H.Tseng, Chih Y.Chang & C.Y.Chang
- Cirsium × tataricum (L.) DC.
- Cirsium tenorioanum G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium tenue Kitam.
- Cirsium tenuipedunculatum Kadota
- Cirsium tenuisquamatum Kitam.
- Cirsium tepehuanense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium teshioense Kadota
- Cirsium texanum Buckley
- Cirsium × thomasii Nägeli
- Cirsium tianmushanicum C.Shih
- Cirsium tioganum (Congdon) Petr.
- Cirsium togaense Kadota
- Cirsium tolucanum Petr.
- Cirsium townsendii (Petr.) G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium toyoshimae Koidz.
- Cirsium trachylomum S.F.Blake
- Cirsium tracyi (Rydb.) Petr.
- Cirsium tuberosum (L.) All.
- Cirsium tukuhnikivatzicum Ackerf.
- Cirsium turneri Warnock
- Cirsium tweedyi (Rydb.) Rydb.
- Cirsium tymphaeum Hausskn.
- Cirsium uetsuense Kitam.
- Cirsium ugoense Nakai
- Cirsium uliginosum (M.Bieb.) Fisch.
- Cirsium umezawanum Kadota
- Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng.
- Cirsium unzenense Kadota & Mas.Saito
- Cirsium uzenense Kadota
- Cirsium valdespinulosum (Sennen) Sennen
- Cirsium valentinum Porta
- Cirsium × vancouverense R.J.Moore & Frankton
- Cirsium velatum (S.Watson) Petr.
- Cirsium vergelense G.L.Nesom
- Cirsium vernonioides C.Shih
- Cirsium verum Kadota
- Cirsium vinaceum Wooton & Standl.
- Cirsium viperinum (D.J.Keil) Ackerf. & D.J.Keil
- Cirsium virginianum Michx.
- Cirsium viridifolium (Hand.-Mazz.) C.Shih
- Cirsium × vivantii L.Villar, Segarra, J.López, Pérez-Coll. & Catalán
- Cirsium vlassovianum Fisch. ex DC.
- Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.
- Cirsium wakasugianum Kadota
- Cirsium waldsteinii Rouy
- Cirsium wallichii DC.
- Cirsium × wankelii Reichardt
- Cirsium welwitschii Coss.
- Cirsium × wettsteinii Petr.
- Cirsium wheeleri (A.Gray) Petr.
- Cirsium × wiedermannii Khek
- Cirsium × winklerianum Čelak.
- Cirsium × woodwardii (H.C.Watson) Nyman
- Cirsium × woronowii Petr.
- Cirsium wrightii A.Gray
- Cirsium yachiyotakashimae Kadota
- Cirsium yakusimense Masam.
- Cirsium yamauchii Kadota
- Cirsium yatsu-alpicola Kadota & Y.Amano
- Cirsium yezoalpinum H.Koidz. ex Kadota & S.Umezawa
- Cirsium yezoense (Maxim.) Makino
- Cirsium yoshidae Kadota
- Cirsium yuki-uenoanum Kadota
- Cirsium yuzawae Kadota
- Cirsium zamoranense Rzed.
- 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.
