Cirsium lanceolatum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spear Thistle
• Scotch thistle
• Scottish thistle
• black thistle
• boar thistle
• bull thistle
• common thistle
• green thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Epitrachys vulgaris
• Carduus vulgaris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is a member of the Asteraceae family. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cirsium, specifically as the species Cirsium vulgare.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Cirsium vulgare, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. Its presence is documented in the coastal landscapes of the Faroe Islands, referred to as Føroyaar. It also grows throughout the various territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species can be found within the northern reaches of Denmark. Finally, its geographical range extends into the northernmost territories of Finland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cirsium vulgare is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, primarily thriving in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and open grasslands (Campo Limpo). This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 3500 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1300 m AMSL. To survive within these varied environments and mitigate herbivory, the plant employs active defense mechanisms.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo Limpo

Genetics

The genetics of Cirsium vulgare are characterized by a complex and highly variable karyotype, which reflects a history of polyploidization events common within the Asteraceae family. A defining feature of its genomic structure is the significant fluctuation in chromosome number observed across different populations and accessions. Specifically, the chromosome number is not fixed but varies extensively, with recorded values including 56, 60, 68, and even as high as 102. This wide range of chromosomal counts suggests a high degree of aneuploidy or varying levels of polyploidy, which likely contributes to the plant's evolutionary plasticity and its ability to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. Such genomic diversity plays a critical role in the species' reproductive strategies and its genetic stability across different geographic ranges.

Chromosome number :

56, 60, 68, 102

Life history

The life history of Cirsium vulgare is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its biological processes over a two-year period. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or accumulated debris during unfavorable conditions. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal growth pattern. This combination of traits ensures that the species can effectively manage resource allocation between its vegetative establishment in the first year and its reproductive flowering phase in the second.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cirsium vulgare is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. It is a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or epiphytic habits. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.925 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.925 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cirsium vulgare is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for temperate environments rather than extreme water-scarcity adaptations seen in C4 or CAM plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake and does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource acquisition, featuring an alternate leaf arrangement and an elliptic form. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a mean length of 12.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 45 cm) and a mean width of 4.5 cm (ranging from 3 cm to 10 cm), resulting in an average leaf size of 110.355 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 160.03 cm²/g, reflecting a specific balance between leaf thickness and surface area for efficient light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

45 cm

Leaf length mean:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

110.355 cm²

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

160.03 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cirsium vulgare is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that allow for self-fertilization. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, featuring red-colored flowers that range in length from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically involving insects with a notable reliance on bees to facilitate the reproductive process. Following pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruits known as achenes. These fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.4 cm (ranging from 0.3 to 5 cm) and a consistent width of approximately 0.2 cm. Each fruit contains a high volume of seeds, often exceeding 1,000 per fruit. The individual seeds are highly uniform in size, maintaining a consistent length of 3.5 mm, and possess a mean mass of approximately 0.00273466666666667 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.001663 g to a maximum of 0.004 g. Dispersal is anemochorous, meaning the seeds are specialized for transport by wind. As a monocarp, the plant's reproductive cycle is part of a single flowering event, and it does not exhibit asexual reproduction.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

5 cm

Flower length min:

3 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

3.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.004 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00273466666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.001663 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cirsium vulgare has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root.

Fruit

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Leaf

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Cirsium vulgare has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Tracheloside, balanophonin.

Tannins

1. Natural product research

Tracheloside

1. Journal of chromatography. A

balanophonin

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Activities

Cirsium vulgare has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cirsium vulgare has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Proteus vulgaris.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Natural product research
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Natural product research
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Bacillus subtilis

1. Natural product research

Candida albicans

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Proteus vulgaris

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Staphylococcus epidermidis

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Cirsium vulgare has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include embryo part, fruit wall, fruits.

Embryo part

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Fruit wall

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Fruits

1. Journal of chromatography. A