Carduus tenuiflorus
Carduus tenuiflorus is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is known variously as slender-flower thistle,[1] sheep thistle,[1] shore thistle,[1] slender thistle,[1] winged plumeless thistle,[2] winged slender thistle[1] and winged thistle.[1] It is native to western Europe and Northwest Africa, and is an introduced species elsewhere. DescriptionCarduus tenuiflorus may exceed 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. Its tall stem is ridged with wings and has long spines which may be several centimeters in length. The dull olive-green leaves are lobed and wrinkled and may fold and crease themselves.[citation needed] The inflorescences may hold up to 20 flower heads which are somewhat rounded, covered in wide, spiny phyllaries, and packed with pale pink to bright purple long-tubed disc florets. This is a tenacious weed of roadsides, fields, and disturbed areas. DistributionCarduus tenuiflorus is native to western North Africa in: northern Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia; Macaronesia; and much of western Europe in: Belgium, France, including Corsica, Ireland, Italy including Sardinia and Sicily, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain including the Balearic Islands, and the United Kingdom.[1][3][4] Introduced speciesIt has become naturalised in South Africa, India, Australasia, Southern South America, regions of the United States, and elsewhere.[1] It is an invasive species in California.[5] References
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