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Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK |
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Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK |
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Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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Musk Thistle |
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| COMMON NAME: | Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME: | Carduus nutans L. |
| TYPE: | Biennial or Annual Cool-season Broadleaf |
| DESCRIPTION | |
| Germination: | Fall through Spring. |
| Reproduction: | By seeds, June-July. |
| Stems: | Erect, highly branched, with spiny wings. |
| Leaves: | The leaves of musk thistle alternate and have simple blades. The rosette blades are lanceolate to elliptic with margins that are deeply serrate to pinnately lobed. The leaves are hairless and the veins extend past the margins as spines. The upper leaves are like the rosette leaves except that they clasped the stem. |
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Flowers/ Inflorescence: |
The flower of the musk thistle develops from the outer edge to the center and is rose-purple to white in color. |
| Fruit: | The fruit of the musk thistle is a one-seeded achene that is yellowish-brown in color with one straight edge and the other curved. The pappus is of white bristles. |
FOUND: |
The musk thistle is primarily found on rangelands, pastures, open woodlands, and fertile lowlands. Can be a problem in fall planted alfalfa and thinning stands. |
CONTROL: |
Small seedling plants can be controlled in fall planted alfalfa with October applications of BUTYRAC 200. |
| Jim Stritzke Former Alfalfa Weed Control Specialist Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Oklahoma State University |
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