Peregrine thistle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peregrine thistle |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cirsium
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| Species: |
cymosum
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The peregrine thistle (scientific name: Cirsium cymosum) is a type of thistle plant found in North America. It grows naturally in the western United States. You can find it in states like California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
Contents
What is a Peregrine Thistle?
The peregrine thistle is a plant that can be either a biennial or a perennial. A biennial plant lives for two years, while a perennial plant lives for more than two years. This plant is a type of herb, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like trees.
It can grow to be about 100 centimeters (39 inches) tall. The plant is covered in soft and rough hairs, and sometimes it looks like it has cobwebs on it.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the peregrine thistle are spiny, meaning they have sharp points. They can grow quite long, especially near the bottom of the stem, reaching up to 30 to 50 centimeters (12 to 20 inches) in length. These leaves are deeply cut into sections called lobes, and each lobe has sharp teeth along its edges.
The plant's inflorescence (which is how the flowers are arranged) is a group of flower heads. Each flower head can be up to 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long and 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide. The outside of each flower head is covered with sticky, spiny parts called phyllaries. Inside these heads, you'll find many dull white flowers.
Seeds and Reproduction
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. The fruit of the peregrine thistle is a type of seed called an achene. This achene has a dark body that is just under a centimeter long. Attached to the achene is a pappus, which is a cluster of hairs. These hairs can be up to 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long and help the seeds float away in the wind, spreading the plant to new places.
Types of Peregrine Thistle
There are two main types, or varieties, of Cirsium cymosum:
- Cirsium cymosum var. canovirens - This variety is found across most of the peregrine thistle's range.
- Cirsium cymosum var. cymosum - This variety is found specifically in California, Nevada, and Oregon.
