Cirsium mexicanum facts for kids

Cirsium mexicanum is a type of plant often called the Mexican thistle. It belongs to a large plant family called Asteraceae, which includes many well-known plants like sunflowers and daisies. This thistle grows naturally in Mesoamerica (which is Central America and parts of Mexico) and the Caribbean islands.

Where the Mexican Thistle Grows

The Mexican thistle is found across a very wide area. You can see it in many parts of Mexico. These include states like Tamaulipas, Durango, Jalisco, Puebla, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and the Yucatán Peninsula.

It also grows in all seven countries of Central America. These countries are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. In the West Indies, which are islands in the Caribbean Sea, you can find it on Cuba, Hispaniola (the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico.

Plant Classification

The Mexican thistle is part of a group of plants known as the tribe Cardueae. This tribe is a smaller group within the larger Asteraceae family. Scientists use these groups to organize and understand different types of plants.

See also

In Spanish: Cirsium mexicanum para niños