corn thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Canada thistle
• creeping thistle
• field thistle
• California thistle
• Canadian thistle
• boar thistle
• perennial thistle
• Californian thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Serratula arvensis
• Breea arvensis
• Cephalonoplos arvensis
• Cnicus arvensis
• Carduus arvensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cirsium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide presence across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the islands of Føroyaar and Iceland. Additionally, the species is well-established throughout Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight its ability to thrive in various Northern European environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cirsium arvense is characterized by a vast altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 4300 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1846.25 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to various disturbed landscapes, frequently colonizing anthropogenic and semi-aquatic environments such as canals and crop fields. Its ability to thrive across such a wide elevational gradient and in diverse agricultural and hydrological niches highlights its resilience in both lowland and montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1846.25 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

canals, crop fields

Life history

The life history of Cirsium arvense is characterized by a versatile and resilient survival strategy, primarily functioning as a perennial species with a variable lifecycle that can transition through annual or biennial stages depending on environmental conditions. It exhibits a complex life form, manifesting as both a therophyte and a geophyte, which allows it to endure seasonal changes by utilizing underground structures for persistence. As a deciduous plant, it sheds its foliage during unfavorable periods, ensuring its long-term survival through dormancy before re-emerging in subsequent growing seasons.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cirsium arvense is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or parasitic tendencies, functioning as an independent organism. Primarily a terrestrial species, it lacks aquatic or epiphytic habits. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.72 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.720666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cirsium arvense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its reliance on the standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it derives all necessary nutrients through soil uptake rather than insectivory, and it lacks the capability to act as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's leaf morphology shows significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 17 cm, maintaining a mean length of 10 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, spanning from 1.5 cm to 10 cm, with a calculated mean width of 3.75 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 38.575 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 154.02 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between its leaf area and its dry mass density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf size mean:

38.575 cm²

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

154.02 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cirsium arvense is characterized by a sexual process facilitated by bisexual flowers, which are capable of self-fertilization. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through September. This plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to ensure successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.3625 cm (ranging from 0.3 to 0.45 cm) and a mean width of 0.115 cm (ranging from 0.1 to 0.15 cm). A single plant is highly prolific, producing more than 1000 seeds per fruit. The resulting seeds are relatively uniform in dimension, maintaining a consistent length, width, and volume of approximately 3.5 mm, 1.3 mm, and 2 mm³, respectively. The seed mass fluctuates between a minimum of 0.0008 g and a maximum of 0.00213 g, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0015 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily spread by the wind. Asexual reproduction is notably absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.45 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.3625 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.15 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.115 cm

Fruit width min:

0.1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

3.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00213 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00150064275 g

Seed mass min:

8e-04 g

Seed volume max:

2 mm³

Seed width mean:

1.3 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cirsium arvense has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Cirsium arvense has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sodium picolinate, Tannins.

Sodium picolinate

1. Natural product research

Tannins

1. Natural product research

Activities

Cirsium arvense has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Cirsium arvense has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacillus subtilis

1. Natural product research

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Natural product research

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Cirsium arvense has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts from leaves, extracts, plant extracts.

Aqueous extracts from leaves

1. Natural product research

Extracts

1. Natural product research

Plant extracts

1. Food science & nutrition