Cirsium altissimum

Family:ASTERACEAE
Species:Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
Common Name:Tall Thistle; Roadside Thistle
Habitat:**
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Biennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:**
Plant Notes:Tall Thistle is a native herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found in scattered locations throughout Alabama. Tall Thistle occurs on prairies, in open woodlands, and on roadsides, usually in moist sites. It is a biennial from a taproot. Stems are erect, pubescent but not spiny, up to 10 feet in height, and with few branches above the middle. Leaves are basal and cauline. Basal leaves are usually absent at flowering. Stem leaves are alternate, sessile or with winged petioles, the upper with clasping bases, oblanceolate to elliptic or ovate in outline, undivided to shallowly lobed, with spine-tipped teeth along the margins. The leaves are white tomentose below and green and sparsely pubescent to glabrous above. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in corymbs. The heads are subtended by tightly appressed phyllaries with a white stripe down their center and long slender spreading spines at their tips. The corollas are pink to purplish. The fruit is a tan colored achene with a tuff of white pappus. The flowers produce abundant nectar and are visited by numerous butterflies and bees. Finches and other birds consume the seed. Tall Thistle can be grown from seed, and should be planted directly in the location where it will grow. Plants will flower in the second year. Tall Thistle prefers a moist, rich soil in full to partial sun.—A. Diamond.
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Native
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyASTERACEAE - Aster family
Genus Cirsium
Species Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng. - Tall Thistle; Roadside Thistle

Citation

Citation Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel, Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3: 373. 1826.
Basionym: Carduus altissimus L. 1753.
Type: USA: SOUTH CAROLINA: "Cirsium altissimum, laciniato folio, subtus tomentoso" (lectotype: Dillenius, Hort. Eltham. t. 69(80). 1732). Lectotypified by J.L. Reveal, in C.E. Jarvis & Turland, Taxon 47: 356. 1998.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Cirsium altissimum var. biltmoreanum Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel, var. biltmoreanum Petrak, Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 35(2): 401. 1917. NORTH CAROLINA
Cirsium diversifolium Cirsium diversifolium de Candolle, Prodr. 6: 649. 1838.  
Cirsium iowense Cirsium iowense (Pammel) Fernald, Rhodora 10: 94. 1908.Cnicus iowensis Pammel 1901. 
Cnicus altissimus Cnicus altissimus (Linnaeus) Willdenow, Sp. Pl. 3: 1671. 1803.Carduus altissimus Linnaeus 1753. 
Cnicus iowensis Cnicus iowensis Pammel, Proc. Iowa Acad. Sci. 8: 231. 1901. IOWA
Carduus altissimus Carduus altissimus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 824. 1753. SOUTH CAROLINA: Without data (lectotype: Dillenius, Hort. Eltham. t. 69(80). 1732). Lectotypified by Reveal, in C. E. Jarvis & Turland, Taxon 47: 356. 1998.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Conecuh, Dallas, DeKalb, Etowah, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Randolph

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AMAL, AUA, JSU, SAMF, TROY, UNA, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1896 - 2019

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.
Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used
Image
SAMF0005273 Bibb 18 May 2011 Davenport, Lawrence J.
4692
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UNA00054461 Blount 19 Sep 1998 Keener, Brian R.
1638
UNA
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill
JSU105100 Clay 18 Aug 1993 Ballard, J. Mark
3246
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000037140 Morgan 22 Aug 2015 England, J. Kevin
5656
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU105097 Calhoun 21 Sep 1973 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
TROY000035232 Butler 26 Aug 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
23263
TROY
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000002238 Jackson 20 Sep 1991 Gunn, Scott C.
2102
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
ALNHS00003008 Colbert 22 Aug 2014 Barger, T. Wayne
FH-53
ALNHS
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
SAMF0005274 Jefferson 14 May 1955 Stallings, Ruth
s.n.
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
TROY000041846 Lowndes 05 Sep 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25493
TROY
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UWAL0057335 Jackson 23 Sep 2019 Keener, Brian R.
11632
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Sprengel
JSU105285 Etowah 04 Sep 1994 Hodge, Lesley M.
3507
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105283 Cleburne 29 Aug 1970 Kral, Robert
40821
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105098 Calhoun 18 Sep 1992 Ballard, J. Mark
836
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AMAL00009965 Dallas 24 Aug 2010 Barger, T. Wayne
OC-448
AMAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002239 Jackson 20 Sep 1991 Gunn, Scott C.
2102
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
TROY000035237 Butler 20 Aug 2012 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
TROY
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
SAMF0005271 Blount 25 Aug 2005 Davenport, Lawrence J.
3341
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
TROY000014604 Conecuh 06 Sep 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
19900
TROY
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UWAL0000524 Conecuh 06 Sep 2008 Diamond, Alvin R.
19900
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU105290 Marshall 25 Sep 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
3169
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU145267 Cleburne 02 Jun 1993 Hutchinson, Francine
1668
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AMAL00009202 Jackson 26 Aug 2009 Barger, T. Wayne
HC-324
AMAL
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105287 Jackson 01 Nov 1983 Whetstone, R. David
13850
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UWAL0018553 Lowndes 05 Sep 2014 Diamond, Alvin R.
25493
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000002233 Conecuh 22 Aug 1987 Diamond, Alvin R.
3538
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002235 DeKalb 5 Jun 1987 Diamond, Alvin R.
3314
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002294 Montgomery 29 Sep 1967 Demaree, Delzie
57300
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU105291 Marshall 25 Sep 1992 Spaulding, Daniel D.
3139
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105093 Calhoun 29 Oct 1996 Hruska, Susan E.
1500
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AMAL00021988 Jackson 26 Aug 2009 Barger, T. Wayne
HC-324
AMAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002231 Cleburne 29 Aug 1970 Kral, Robert
40821
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
TROY000035193 Butler 21 Aug 2012 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
TROY
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105286 Etowah 24 Sep 1994 Hodge, Lesley M.
3877
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AMAL00019356 Calhoun 04 Sep 1994 Spaulding, Daniel D.
6165
AMAL
Cirsium altissimum L.
TROY000044026 Colbert 13 Sep 2014 England, J. Kevin
5170
TROY
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UWAL0018262 Colbert 13 Sep 2014 England, J. Kevin
5170
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000002236 Hale 8 Sep 1970 Moore, Harold D.
900
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU153207 Cleburne 23 May 1993 Hutchinson, Francine
1562
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105288 Jackson 13 Aug 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
1205
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UWAL0011194 Butler 26 Aug 2012 Diamond, Alvin R.
23263
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105281 Cleburne 08 Sep 1983 Whetstone, R. David
13692
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
SAMF0008122 Jefferson 17 May 2007 Davenport, L.J.
3719
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000038464 Lee 2 Sep 1956 Hocking, George M.
631
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000039637 Lee 17 Apr 2019 Barger, T. Wayne
CSP-615
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
SAMF0005428 Lawrence 02 Aug 2012 Davenport, Lawrence J.
5353
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UWAL0030029 Morgan 22 Aug 2015 England, J. Kevin
5656
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000002242 Marshall 23 Aug 1981 O'Halloran, K.
433
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU105095 Calhoun 19 Aug 1980 Whetstone, R. David
10199
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105289 Jackson 13 Aug 1998 Brodeur, Kristin R.
1205
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UNA00053999 Blount 06 Sep 1997 Keener, Brian R.
386
UNA
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill
JSU105282 Cleburne 08 Sep 1983 Whetstone, R. David
13692
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
SAMF0008111 Jefferson 20 Sep 2007 Davenport, L.J.
3747
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AUA000002240 Jefferson 31 Aug 1977 Sessler, Ann H.
1864
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002232 Cleburne 12 Sep 1975 Rutland, David W.
1730
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
SAMF0005272 Calhoun 02 Oct 2003 Davenport, Lawrence J.
2993
SAMF
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
ALNHS00006540 Cleburne 06 Aug 2019 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#4797
ALNHS
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
UWAL0011121 Butler 21 Aug 2012 Webb, Wayne K.
s.n.
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105099 Clay 18 Aug 1993 Ballard, J. Mark
3246
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105094 Calhoun 19 Aug 1980 Whetstone, R. David
10199
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
JSU105096 Calhoun 21 Sep 1973 Landers, Kenneth E.
s.n.
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UNA00027054 Mobile s.d. Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill
AUA000002237 Jackson 20 Sep 1991 Gunn, Scott C.
2102
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
ALNHS00002289 Colbert 22 Aug 2013 Barger, T. Wayne
FH-53
ALNHS
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
UNA00027055 Lee 03 Oct 1896 Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill
UWAL0001740 Conecuh 11 Sep 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21584
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
UWAL0001076 Conecuh 11 Sep 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21584
UWAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002234 Dallas 7 Sep 1970 Moore, Harold D.
845
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU144082 Calhoun 16 Oct 1992 Hutchinson, Francine
1140
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
AMAL00012605 Cherokee 26 Sep 2007 Barger, T. Wayne
267
AMAL
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill
JSU105284 Cleburne 08 Sep 1983 Whetstone, R. David
13681
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
UNA00072267 Jackson 26 Aug 2009 Barger, T. Wayne
HC#324
UNA
Cirsium altissimum (L.) Hill
AUA000002241 Lee 13 Sep 2000 Hansen, Curtis J.
2000-76
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
AUA000002230 Baldwin 22 Sep 1981 Henderson, T.
598
AUA
Cirsium Altissimum (L.) Spreng.
JSU105292 Randolph 17 Aug 1988 Nixon, Christopher F.
4182
JSU
Cirsium altissimum (Linnaeus) Sprengel
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