Page 30 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 30
l Thistle
(Cirsium vulgare)
Description
Bull Thistle is a biennial plant covered
in sharp spines. During its first year, Bull
Thistle forms a whirled rosette of deeply
lobed, spiny leaves. During its second
summer, the plant grows to a height of
1 to 1.5 meters and produces a pinkish-
purple flower (2.5 to 5 centimeters in
diameter) in late June through August.
The flower turns to seed and releases up to 5,000 downy seeds which are
dispersed by wind. Bull Thistle reproduces solely through seeds.
While Bull Thistle is considered a Distribution and Habitat
weed here in Virginia, in Scotland
it is the national symbol. As legend Bull Thistle thrives in sunny fields
goes, it gained this high recognition and land that has been disturbed by
when long ago it saved Scotland human activity. It is found in all five
from a nighttime Viking attack. While physiographic provinces.
creeping up on a Scottish camp, a
barefoot Viking stepped on a thistle Role in Food Web
causing him to cry out in pain. This
cry alerted the sleeping Scots and Eastern Cottontail Rabbits,
prevented them from falling to White-tailed Deer, honeybees,
attack. The thistle is considered a bumblebees, carpenter
sign of nobility, bravery and loyalty. ants, American Goldfinches,
hummingbirds and many types of
butterflies feed on Bull Thistle.
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(Cirsium vulgare)
Description
Bull Thistle is a biennial plant covered
in sharp spines. During its first year, Bull
Thistle forms a whirled rosette of deeply
lobed, spiny leaves. During its second
summer, the plant grows to a height of
1 to 1.5 meters and produces a pinkish-
purple flower (2.5 to 5 centimeters in
diameter) in late June through August.
The flower turns to seed and releases up to 5,000 downy seeds which are
dispersed by wind. Bull Thistle reproduces solely through seeds.
While Bull Thistle is considered a Distribution and Habitat
weed here in Virginia, in Scotland
it is the national symbol. As legend Bull Thistle thrives in sunny fields
goes, it gained this high recognition and land that has been disturbed by
when long ago it saved Scotland human activity. It is found in all five
from a nighttime Viking attack. While physiographic provinces.
creeping up on a Scottish camp, a
barefoot Viking stepped on a thistle Role in Food Web
causing him to cry out in pain. This
cry alerted the sleeping Scots and Eastern Cottontail Rabbits,
prevented them from falling to White-tailed Deer, honeybees,
attack. The thistle is considered a bumblebees, carpenter
sign of nobility, bravery and loyalty. ants, American Goldfinches,
hummingbirds and many types of
butterflies feed on Bull Thistle.
r 26 r
