We meet this tallish thistle, Cirsium arvense in summer fields throughout much of the United States. Butterflies do nectar here, but it isn’t a popular destination, and those that visit spend very little time at Canadian thistle. So over the years we don’t post ourselves at the pretty blooms, because few if any good butterfly opportunities are had here. Here is Nichol field in Raccoon Creek State Park in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Native wildflower? No. It’s a migrant from somewhere in Europe. The National Audubon Society‘s Field Guide to Wildflowers – Eastern Region dismisses this plant with “pernicious weed” and “classified as noxious in most states.” It’s fitting then that Canadian thistle seemingly plays a minor role in supporting our native butterflies. Not an acclimated native, it is not naturally woven into the fabric of our indigenous habitat.
Digging further, I searched for Canadian thistle in my prized edition of Wildfowers of Western Pennsylvania and The Upper Ohio Basin by O. E. Jennings (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1953). We purchased the 2-volume set some years ago at auction. Canadian thistle is totally absent from Jenning’s major work. It’s an alien plant. Period.
How many of the wildflowers that we see are non-native? When we walk out our door we see the alien vines that are strangling the trees and shrubs of Frick Park, our verdant neighbor.
Jeff
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I always wonder how this species got its common name, which has probably lulled many into assuming that it is native to North America.
However, I think your photo is actually a knapweed, Centaurea sp., another invasive alien. The two flowers look very similar, but knapweed has fewer, larger bracts on the receptacle (the ‘bulb’ under the flower), and the upper end of the receptacle is narrower. The upper leaves of knapweed are also narrower (though the thistle’s upper leaves can be quite variable). Probably the easiest way to tell them apart is that the thistle is very prickly overall.
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Pete, I appreciate your response. I’m looking at my copy of O. E. Jennings’ Wild Flowers of Western Pennsylvania and Upper Ohio Basin (U of Pitt Press, 1953) and my image very closely resembles Avinoff’s plate of Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum)… so much so that I continue to see this post as a thistle. The bracts look very similar. Feedback?
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I love to read your researched info about the plants and butterflies you photograph. Thanks so much for sharing.
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I want to to thank a person for this wonderful read!! We definitely experiencing every little bit of it I maybe you have bookmarked to look at new stuff a person post
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