Barneby's thistle facts for kids

Barneby's thistle (scientific name: Cirsium barnebyi) is a special plant found in North America. It grows naturally in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. This unique thistle likes to live in juniper woodlands and sagebrush areas. You can find it high up in the mountains, usually between 1,600 and 2,600 meters (about 5,250 to 8,530 feet) above sea level.

This plant has been found in six different counties across three states: Colorado (Rio Blanco and Garfield Counties), Utah (Uintah, Carbon, and Duchesne Counties), and Wyoming (Carbon County).

What is Barneby's Thistle?

Barneby's thistle is a type of perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years, and its stem is not woody like a tree. It can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. The plant has a strong, woody taproot that helps it stay anchored and find water deep in the ground.

Leaves and Spines

The leaves of Barneby's thistle are shaped like long ovals, and they can be up to 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. Their edges are wavy and have deep cuts, almost like lobes. Be careful though, because these edges are lined with very sharp spines!

Flowers and Appearance

This thistle produces beautiful flower heads. A flower head is a cluster of many small flowers that look like one big flower. Barneby's thistle can have anywhere from 1 to 20 of these flower heads. They grow at the very top of the plant or at the ends of its branches.

Around the base of each flower head are special modified leaves called phyllaries. Just like the main leaves, these phyllaries also have sharp spines. The flowers themselves are a lovely lavender to pinkish-purple color, adding a splash of color to the rocky mountain landscape.