Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Cirsium arizonicum (Gray) Petrak var. arizonicum
(Arizona Thistle)


Family: Asteraceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Carduus arizonicus (Gray) Greene
Cnicus arizonicus Gray

Cirsium arizonicum is a common roadside thistle in New Mexico. It differs from Cirsium neomexicanum in that the outer phyllaries are not strongly reflexed. Both are pink-purple, but Cirsium neomexicanum is generally somewhat paler and blooms earlier. The leaves of Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum are much spinier than those of Cirsium wheeleri. Cirsium arizonicum shows wide variation within its range.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, photo Russ Kleinman, Leggett Canyon, July 27, 2009



Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, closeup of phyllaries, photo Russ Kleinman, Leggett Canyon, July 27, 2009



Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Leggett Canyon, July 27, 2009



Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Leggett Canyon, July 27, 2009



Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, closeup of adaxial (top) surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Leggett Canyon, July 27, 2009



Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, closeup of abaxial (bottom) surface of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, Leggett Canyon, July 27, 2009


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