Cirsium erisithales, the yellow thistle[2] or yellow melancholy thistle, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae.[3]
| Cirsium erisithales | |
|---|---|
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| Flowerhead of Cirsium erisithales | |
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| Close-up on a flowerhead | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Cirsium |
| Species: | C. erisithales
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| Binomial name | |
| Cirsium erisithales (Jacq.) Scop.
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
Cirsium erisithales can reach a height of 50–150 millimetres (2.0–5.9 in). The stems are erect, almost hairless. This plant has just a few leaves, with tooth-shaped lobes. Flower heads are lemon yellow, solitary or in groups (up to 5), with a diameter of 25–30 millimetres (0.98–1.18 in).[4]
Distribution edit
This species is widespread in southern and eastern Europe, though nowhere very common. It is present in the mountains of France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, the Balkans, Greece, southern Russia, etc.[5]
Habitat edit
Cirsium erisithales grows in fresh wood (beech), rocky slopes, meadows and waters edge. It prefers calcareous or volcanic soils, at an elevation of 400–2,000 metres (1,300–6,600 ft) above sea level.[6]
References edit
- ^ The Plant List, Cirsium erisithales (Jacq.) Scop.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Tropicos,Cirsium erisithales
- ^ Biolib taxon profile
- ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, Cardo zampa d'orso, yellow thistle, Cirsium erisithales (Jacq.) Scop. includes photos and European distribution map
- ^ Pignatti 1982, Flora d'Italia. Volume 3, Bologna, Edagricole, 1982, pag. 161
External links edit
- Tela botanica in French with photos
- Acta Plantarum in Italian with photos
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