Status: Native
Synonyms:
Cirsium perennans (Greene) Wooton & Standley
Cnicus wheeleri Gray
Cirsium wheeleri is found at the roadside in middle to upper elevation Ponderosa Pine forest. It differs
from Cirsium neomexicanum in that inflorescence is smaller and the outer phyllaries are not reflexed. Both are pink-purple, but Cirsium neomexicanum is generally somewhat paler and blooms earlier. The upper phyllaries of Cirsium wheeleri are purple-tinged and its leaves are weakly spiny in comparison to other thistles. The inflorescence of Cirsium wheeleri is about 4cm tall and 2cm wide.
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Cirsium wheeleri, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Signal Peak turnoff, July 20, 2009
Cirsium wheeleri, leaves weakly spiny, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Signal Peak turnoff, July 20, 2009
Cirsium wheeleri, inflorescence 4 cm tall, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Signal Peak turnoff, July 20, 2009
Cirsium wheeleri, top of leaf green and bottom tomentose white, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Signal Peak turnoff, July 20, 2009
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