North Carolina Wildflowers

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Asteraceae (Compositae) > Carduus (plumeless thistle)

Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
Field in Duke Forest Blackwood Division
29 May 2008

Rare in the North Carolina piedmont, this exotic flower is native to Eurasia.

Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
Field in Duke Forest Blackwood Division
29 May 2008

Flower buds are strikingly patterned.

Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
Field in Duke Forest Blackwood Division
29 May 2008

Foliage is well armed.

Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
Field in Duke Forest Blackwood Division
29 May 2008

Mature flowers are often, but not always, nodding.



Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on June 15, 2008 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com