wavyleaf thistle

Cirsium undulatum

The wavyleaf thistle is a tall plant with wavy leaves and purple flowers. It grows in sunny places and attracts butterflies and bees, making it a lovely sight in nature.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The wavyleaf thistle has tall, branching stems topped with bright purplish-pink flower heads. Its defining feature is the distinctive silvery-green leaves, which are deeply lobed, wavy, and armed with numerous sharp spines along their edges. This plant stands out with its robust, prickly appearance.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenAsteralesFamiliaAsteraceaeGéneroCirsium

wavyleaf thistle

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

Ancient people knew how to cook and eat parts of this prickly plant, making it a surprise meal!

Each thistle flower head is actually a cluster of many tiny individual purple flowers!

Its cheerful purple flowers are a vital fuel stop for many migrating butterflies!

This plant can grow in tough, dry soils where many other plants simply cannot survive!

Habilidades especiales

Wavyleaf thistle has sharp spines covering its leaves and stems that help it defend against hungry herbivores.

Wavyleaf thistle grows an extremely long taproot that helps it find deep water and survive dry conditions.

Wavyleaf thistle seeds have a fluffy pappus that helps them float on the wind for wide dispersal.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 30-180 cm
Extensión: 30-90 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 2-5 cm
Temporada de floración: Verano
Comestible: Sí
Toxicidad: Ninguna
Ciclo de vida: Bienal
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers.

pollinates

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Feeds on nectar from its vibrant blooms.

eaten by

American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

Eats the plant's seeds from its mature flower heads.

eaten by

Painted Lady Butterfly

Vanessa cardui

Larvae sometimes feed on its leaves.

Rasgos

Floración

Las plantas con flores son cualquier planta que produce flores como parte de su ciclo reproductivo.

Bienal

Las plantas bienales completan su ciclo de vida en dos temporadas de crecimiento, formando típicamente follaje en el primer año y floreciendo o semillando en el segundo.

Floración de verano

Las plantas de floración de verano producen sus flores durante la temporada estival, a menudo aportando un color vibrante cuando muchas otras plantas ya han terminado de florecer.