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Cirsium horridulum

Michx.

Yellow Thistle

G5Secure Found in 8 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.132867
Element CodePDAST2E1E0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusCirsium
Synonyms
Carduus spinosissimusWalt.
Other Common Names
Bristle Thistle (EN) Horrible Thistle (EN) yellow 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 Date2024-07-05
Change Date1985-04-05
Edition Date2024-07-05
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Cirsium horridulum is a large herb that is native to northern Mexico and the eastern United States in coastal plain and piedmont regions from Massachusetts to Texas. With a large range extent and hundreds of occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Cirsium horridulum is found in the coastal plain and piedmont regions of the eastern United States from Massachusetts to Texas and northern Mexico (FNA 2006, Weakley 2024). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are more than 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Cirsium horridulum is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. It may also be confused with non-native thistles and removed or sprayed with herbicides. However, the overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Cirsium horridulum var. horridulum grows in "Fields, meadows, pinelands, roadsides, forest openings, low ground, often weedy, often in damp soil" (FNA 2006).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest EdgeWoodland - ConiferGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
GeorgiaS5Yes
LouisianaSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
TennesseeS3Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
FloridaS4Yes
MaineSHYes
VirginiaS4Yes
New YorkS4Yes
DelawareS4Yes
MarylandS3Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
South CarolinaSNRYes
ConnecticutS1Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS1Yes
TexasSUYes
New JerseySNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.2.3 - Persecution/controlUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationBIENNIAL, PERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (8)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Florida (2)
AreaForestAcres
Alexander Springs CreekOcala National Forest2,954
Farles PrairieOcala National Forest1,901
North Carolina (3)
AreaForestAcres
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
Sheep Ridge AdditionCroatan National Forest5,808
South Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bee CoveSumter National Forest3,025
References (5)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 19. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 6: Asteraceae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 579 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. 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.
  5. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).