Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

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

Cirsium grahamii Gray
(Graham's Thistle)


Family: Asteraceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Carduus grahamii (Gray) Greene
Cnicus grahamii (Gray) Gray

Cirsium grahamii belongs to the group of thistles with smaller involucres. The plants have erect heads with leaves that are not long decurrent. The margins of the outer phyllaries are spiny. The corollas are a deep purple. According to Allred, this species rare in New Mexico and only thus far found along the forks of the Gila River.
Many thanks to John Gorey for permission to use his great pix!

Please click on an image for a larger file.



Cirsium grahamii, photo John Gorey, Gila NF between the West and Middle forks of the Gila River, August 20, 2021



Cirsium grahamii, closeup of inflorescence, photo John Gorey, Gila NF between the West and Middle forks of the Gila River, August 20, 2021



Cirsium grahamii, closeup of leaves, photo John Gorey, Gila NF between the West and Middle forks of the Gila River, August 20, 2021


Back to the Index