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Cirsium brevifolium

Nutt.

Palouse Thistle

G3Vulnerable Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.154223
Element CodePDAST2E0A0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusCirsium
Other Common Names
palouse thistle (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-11-20
Change Date2000-06-27
Edition Date2024-11-20
Edition AuthorsVrilakas, S. (1999), rev. Johnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Cirsium brevifolium is a perennial herb that is native to parts of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, United States. It was once widespread in the palouse prairies and it can still be found in the remnant patches of these grasslands as well as along roadsides and other grassy areas. Invasive plants and herbicide drift from agricultural fields are threats.
Range Extent Comments
Cirsium brevifolium is known from eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and western Idaho, United States. Older collections of this species are spread across a larger area of all three states but it is unclear whether these represent misidentified collections of other species or a true decrease in global range. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024, CPNWH 2024, OSU 2024).
Occurrences Comments
Idaho is currently the only state tracking this species and the Southern Idaho Rare Plant Working Group estimates that there are 41-54 occurrences in Idaho (INPS 2024). By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are 103 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024, CPNWH 2024, OSU 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Herbicide drift and invasive species from agricultural fields may be a potential threat. Weed management crews may not recognize this native thistle and spray it while treating invasive thistles.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Cirsium brevifolium can be found in open palouse grassland remnants, dry rocky slopes, and roadsides (Knoke and Giblin 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceous
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS3Yes
IdahoS2Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Serious - moderateModerate (short-term)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall (1-10%)Serious - moderateModerate (short-term)
9 - PollutionRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.3.3 - Herbicides and pesticidesRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
References (13)
  1. Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (CPNWH). 2024. Online database of vascular plant specimens from the Pacific Northwest. Online. Available: http://www.pnwherbaria.org/index.php (accessed 2024).
  2. Cronquist, A. 1955. Compositae. In C.L. Hitchcock, A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J.W. Thompson (eds.). Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 5. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. 343 pp.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  4. Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS). 2024. Rare Plant Working Groups, Idaho Rare Plant List. https://idahonativeplants.org/rare-plant-conference/
  5. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. Knoke, D. and D. Giblin. 2022. <i>Cirsium brevifolium</i> (Palouse thistle). Burke Herbarium Image Collection; University of Washington. Accessed: 20 November 2024. https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Cirsium%20brevifolium
  8. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  9. Oregon Natural Heritage Data Base. 1985. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Data Base, Portland, Oregon. 31 p.
  10. Oregon State University (OSU). 2024. Oregon Flora website. Oregon State University Herbarium at Oregon State University. Online. Available: https://oregonflora.org/ (accessed 2024).
  11. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  12. Vrilakas, Sue. Personal Communication. Data manager and botanist. Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.
  13. Washington Natural Heritage Program. 1997. Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Vascular Plants of Washington - with Working Lists of Rare Non-Vascular Species. Department of Natural Resources. Olympia. 62 p.