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Cirsium edule

Nutt.

Edible Thistle

G5Secure Found in 40 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.152531
Element CodePDAST2E110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusCirsium
Other Common Names
Chardon comestible (FR) edible 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.
Taxonomic Comments
Flora of North America (2006) recognizes three varieties within Cirsium edule: C. edule var. edule, C. edule var. macounii, and C. edule var. wenatchense (first described in 2004).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-07-12
Change Date2016-07-12
Edition Date2003-10-03
Edition AuthorsMaybury 2003
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Species occurs in a wide elevational range from Oregon to southeastern Alaska, mostly west of the Cascades, but also east to Idaho. Locally common, (especially in British Columbia).
Occurrences Comments
Common within its range.
Threat Impact Comments
No obvious threats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Wet meadows, woods.
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS5Yes
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
AlaskaS1Yes
OregonSNRYes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (40)
Alaska (1)
AreaForestAcres
QuartzTongass National Forest143,003
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
Washington (38)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Blue SlideWenatchee National Forest17,505
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Heather LakeWenatchee National Forest10,628
HorseshoeGifford Pinchot National Forest7,579
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Lion RockWenatchee National Forest4,692
Long SwampOkanogan National Forest66,344
ManastashWenatchee National Forest11,155
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
NaneumWenatchee National Forest4,508
Nason RidgeWenatchee National Forest19,329
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
QuartzWenatchee National Forest8,550
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
TumwaterGifford Pinchot National Forest8,676
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
References (3)
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.