Cirsium perplexans by Ann Fenwick
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Cirsium perplexans by Ann Fenwick
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Cirsium perplexans by Heidi Snyder in progress
General description:
Taprooted perennial or biennial, 2-10 dm tall, with purplish, striate stems. Flowers rose or reddish-purple; flower heads about 3 cm high and broad. Phyllaries spreading to reflexed, with erose tips or spines 1-2 mm long; bracts with distinct glandular back. Lower leaves oblanceolate, upper leaves lanceolate and clasping, not decurrent; leaves toothed with weak yellow spines (Flora of North America 1993+), Spackman and Anderson 2002, Ackerfield 2012, Weber and Wittmann 2012).
Look Alikes:
Cirsium centaureae bracts are narrower and do not have the distinct glandular back, and flowers are ochroleucous to white (Spackman and Anderson 2002).
Phenology:
Flowers May-August (Flora of North America 1993+).