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| Scientific Name | Cirsium texanum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CITE2 |
| Common Name | Texas Thistle | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 36418 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | Flora of North America Ref. | Click Here |
| Description | Habitat: Dry soils in fields, prairies, disturbed and overgrazed areas; common in much of Texas. Plant: Erect biennial or short-lived perennial; usually solitary, spiny stems often much-branched above; 2 to 5 feet tall. Leaves: Mid-stem and above alternate, clasping, narrowly-obovate in outline with 3 to 9 spiny-toothed lobes on each edge, hairy beneath and 4 to 12 inches long; larger basal leaves in a rosette. Inflorescence: Terminal, solitary, very showy lavender flower head 1 to 1-1/2 inches across with many disk florets, no rays; cup-shaped involucre of linear-shaped, recurved phyllaries beneath. Bloom Period: April to July. References: "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
