Astragalus gilviflorus

Cirsium flodmanii

Flodman's Thistle

Achene Close-Up
Douglas Provincial Park
13-Aug-2005

Note the yellow apical band. For C. undulatum the apical band is much narrower if it exists at all. Note also that the achene (minus the pappus) is less than 5 mm long. The achene of C. undulatum is more than 5 mm long. Finally, note that the pappus hairs (bristles) are plumose (having fine hairs on each side like a comb).

Budd's Flora requires that this plant not possess creeping rootstocks. Yet Flora of Alberta states the plant sometimes spreads by slender creeping roots. This is not inconsistent; a rootstock is not a root but rather an underground stem or rhizome.

Flodmanii: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.

perennial from deep roots; NOT biennial

plants WITHOUT creeping rootstocks

plants always with stems

leaves white woolly beneath; NOT green on both sides when mature

leaves pale green or gray, somewhat woolly above; leaves NOT [deep green and bristly on upper sides]

upper surface of leaves NOT scabrous

occasionally some lower leaves entire margined

cauline leaves deeply pinnatifid lobed; NOT subentire to shallowly lobed

leaf lobes generally less than 7 mm wide

flowering heads overtopping the foliage; NOT exceeded by the foliage

heads more than 2.5 cm high

heads less than 5 cm high

involucres more than 2 cm high

involucres rarely over 2.5 cm high

involucres usually more than 12 mm wide

bracts of involucre progressively longer from outer to inner, NOT more or less equal

bracts of involucre only slightly, if at all, cobwebby; involucre NOT densely arachnoid

bracts with spiny tips

inner bracts of involucre WITHOUT [loose, twisted, and spineless tips]

outer bracts of involucre glandular; NOT eglandular

outer bracts of involucre more than 2 mm wide at base

male and female florets on the same plant or flower head; NOT on separate plants

corollas deep purple (rarely white); NOT light purple

achenes up to 5 mm long; NOT more than 5 mm long

pappus of mature fruit shorter than corolla

Cirsium: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.

juice watery; NOT milky

leaves NOT cordate

leaves with spiny margins

bracts of involucre NOT dry, NOT parchmenty, usually green

involucral bracts spiny-tipped but NOT with hooked bristles

receptacle densely bristly; NOT naked

flower heads with all florets tubular

stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

pappus present, distinct

pappus of capillary bristles; NOT [of scales, or of awns, or a crown or none]

pappus bristles much longer than achene

pappus bristles plumose; NOT naked, NOT merely minutely barbellate