Carduus nutans
 
Nodding Thistle

Achene

White Butte Trails, 14 km East of Regina
21-August-2015

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Carduus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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juice watery; NOT [juice milky]

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leaves not mottled

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leaves with spiny margins

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receptacle densely bristly; NOT [receptacle naked]

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bracts of involucre not dry or parchmenty, usually green; NOT [bracts of involucre dry, parchmenty or membranous, not green]

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some involucral bracts spiny-tipped; NOT [involucral bracts with hooked bristles]

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flower heads with all florets tubular

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stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

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achenes 3-4 mm long; NOT [achenes 6-7 mm long]

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pappus present, distinct; NOT [pappus none or inconspicuous]

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pappus of hairs; NOT [pappus of scales, or of awns, or a crown]

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pappus hairs much longer than achene; NOT [pappus hairs not longer than achene]

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pappus hairs naked or merely minutely barbellate; NOT [pappus hairs plumose]