Canada Thistle

Cthis1.bmp (1799666 bytes)

Cotyledons and first true leaves.  Key characteristics: cotyledons are thick and rounded.  Leaves are covered with hairs.

Cthis2.bmp (1984590 bytes) 

Vegetative plant.  Key characteristics: leaf margins have wavy lobes and spines.

Cthis3.bmp (2255838 bytes)

Stem mid-section.

Cthis4.bmp (2170146 bytes)

Upper portion of plant.

Cthis5.bmp (839050 bytes) 

Flower.  Key characteristics: color varies from pink, purple or white.   Flowers are arranged in clusters.

     

Seed.  Seed are glossy, yellow-brown, elongated with a know on one terminal and have a length of approximately 2.5 to 3.0 mm.

Life cycle: perennial.