Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

Arizona Thistle, Cirsium arizonicum

Arizona Thistle, Cirsium arizonicum And Two-Tailed Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio multicaudata Photos Taken August 27, 2008. Yarnell Arizona.

Arizona Thistle Cirsium arizonicum	Arizona Thistle Cirsium arizonicum
Arizona Thistle Cirsium arizonicum	Arizona Thistle Cirsium arizonicum

Arizona Thistle Cirsium arizonicum, Sunflower Family ( Compositae ), Arizona Thistle. Also called Lavender Thistle. Arizona Thistle is a herbaceous plant that can be either a biennial or perennial, reaching about 4 feet in height. Cirsium arizonicum is native to the southwestern United States, including Arizona, southeastern California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. Its oblong - obovate leaves are pinnately - lobed with pinate lobes. Its basal leaves are 3/8 inch to 1 1/2 inch long. Arizona Thistle blooms in Arizona from May to October and grows at elevations from about 3000 to 7000 feet pinion pine, chaparral, or shrub oak forests. The inflorescence is 1 1/4 inch to 3 inches in length. They are about 5/8 inch to 7/8 inches in diameter, They are red to pink or purple in color, with all the florets of similar form. Each plant varies in the number of inflorescences produced, from one to about 100. Five sub species have been identified, they are: Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum. Cirsium arizonicum var. bipinnatum. Cirsium arizonicum var. chellyense. Cirsium arizonicum var. rothrockii. Cirsium arizonicum var. tenuisectum. Height: Up To About 4 Feet Tall. Flowers: Color, red to pink or purple. Blooming Time: May to October. Fruit: The fruit is an achene with a bristly pappus 0.6 to 0.8 inch long. Leaves: The oblong - obovate leaves are pinnately - lobed with pinate lobes. Its basal leaves are 3/8 inch to 1 1/2 inch long. Found: Throughout Arizona. Normally in pinion pine, chaparral, or shrub oak forests. Elevation: 3000 to 7000 feet. Habitat: Commonly found in sandy to gravelly washes. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken August 27, 2008. Yarnell Arizona.