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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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| Bull Thistle | |
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| COMMON NAME: | Bull Thistle, Common Thistle, Spear Thistle |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME: | Cirsium vulgare |
| TYPE: | Biennial Cool-season Broadleaf |
| DESCRIPTION | |
| Germination: | Summer and Fall (July through September). |
| Reproduction: | By seeds. |
| Stems: | Erect, many spreading branches that are green to brownish. They are slightly hairy with multicellular or cobwebby hairs and at least the upper portion of the stem has an irregular spiny wing. |
| Flowers: | Dark purple to pinkish-purple corolla. |
| Leaves: | The leaves of the Bull Thistle are alternating and have simple blades. The leaf blades of the rosette are frequently bifid with pointed tips and are elliptic to ovate. They also may be unlobed to pinnately lobed with margins that are toothed and tipped with spines. The stem leave blades are must like the rosettes blades but they smaller with longer spines. The leaves are green and hairless with appressed yellowish prickles above. |
| Fruit: | The fruit of the Bull Thistle is a one-seeded, oblong achene that is white to a pale yellow in color with brown or black streaks. The achene is ridged around one end and curved. The pappus is of white bristles, plumose, and deciduous. |
| Found: | The Bull Thistle is found primarily on rangelands, pastures, meadows, old fields, gardens, and disturbed sites. |
| Control: | |
Jim Stritzke Former Alfalfa Weed Control Specialist Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Oklahoma State University |
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