Musk thistle
Musk thistle Carduus nutans L.
Family: Asteraceae (Composite family)
Life cycle: Biennial
Native status: Introduced as an ornamental for its showy flowers
Habitat: Pastures, roadsides,
Musk thistle Carduus nutans L.
Family: Asteraceae (Composite family)
Life cycle: Biennial
Native status: Introduced as an ornamental for its showy flowers
Habitat: Pastures, roadsides,
Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare (Savi.) Tenore
Family: Asteraceae (Composite family)
Life cycle: Biennial
Native status: Introduced
Habitat: Pastures, roadsides, prairies
Biennial thistles are commonly found in Iowa's pastures, roadsides, CRP and other un-tilled areas. Musk (Carduus nutans ) and bull (Cirsium vulgare) thistle are exotic species (originate from outside of North America) and are responsible for the majority of problems caused by this group of plants. Tall ( Cirsium altissimum), Flodmans ( Cirsium flodmani) and field thistle (Cirsium discolor) are native to Iowa and far less prevalent than musk or bull thistle. Although all species in the Carduus an