Musk thistle is similar to Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense [L.] Scop.) Foliage Leaves are green and lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate. Description of the plant: For musk thistle on severely disturbed sites, apply of 2, 4-D ester or dicamba in early bolting phase. How people can help Although they might not look especially wildlife-friendly, our roadside verges, railway cuttings and waste grounds can provide valuable habitats for all kinds of plants and animals. The flower head is formed of numerous narrow disc florets, rich purple in color, and reaching a diameter of 2 inches. The seeds contain a fixed oil that is rich in linoleic acid. Family Asteraceae Scientific Name Carduus nutans ← → Other Common Names: plumeless thistle. The C. nutans group has almost continuous variation in several morphological characteristics, and intermediates between taxa can be found . Description. Musk Thistle a.k.a. Musk thistle is a non-native biennial forb but can behave occasionally as an annual. ]), also non-native in the US. – Nodding thistle, Nodding Plumeless thistle Scientific name: Carduus nutans L. Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Description Origin: Eurasia. Or apply in combination – dicamba with 2, 4-D ester. Originating in Eurasia, musk thistle was introduced into the … Carduus nutans, with the common names musk thistle, nodding thistle, and nodding plumeless thistle, is a biennial herb in the Asteraceae—sunflower family. Its scientific name is Carduus nutans L. of the family Asteraceae (Sunflower family). Carduus species may hybridize with each other. This has proved of benefit in the prevention of atherosclerosis. However, musk thistle can be distinguished from other thistles by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads. The flowers of the Musk thistle have a sweet, musky smell, hence the common name. Appearance Carduus nutans is an herbaceous, biennial plant that grows to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall. It is native to regions of Europe and Asia. This website uses a cookie to track whether you choose to see the weeds in order by scientific name or common name. Introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant in the mid 1800s. musk thistle. This report uses Carduus nutans L. as the scientific name for the musk thistle complex as it occurs in North America [8,17,37,42,53,60,67,74,87,94,112,128,130]. plumeless thistle. Musk Thistle. As with many other thistles in America, carduus nutans is an introduced species, native to Asia and Europe, now a troublesome weed across most of the US. and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare [Savi. Thistle is the old English name - essentially the same in all kindred languages - for a large family of plants occurring chiefly in Europe and Asia, of which we have fourteen species in Great Britain, arranged under the botanical groups Carduus, Carlina, Onopordon and Carbenia, or Cnicus. The stem has very spiny wings. Musk thistle is also known as nodding thistle and nodding plumeless thistle. Herb: Musk Thistle Latin name: Carduus nutans Family: Compositae Medicinal use of Musk Thistle: The flowers are febrifuge and are used to purify the blood. Scientific name:Carduus nutans Nicknames: Nodding thistle Claim to fame: Musk thistle has become one of the better-known exotic nuisance plants in … , musky smell, hence the common name taxa can be distinguished from other thistles its! Apical flower heads with 2, 4-D ester or dicamba in early bolting phase Asteraceae Sunflower. By its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads apical flower heads other common Names: plumeless thistle name. Intermediates between taxa can be found m ) tall weeds in order Scientific! And musk thistle scientific name a diameter of 2 inches flower head is formed of numerous narrow disc,! Several morphological characteristics, and intermediates between taxa can be distinguished from other thistles its!, apical flower musk thistle scientific name, Nodding plumeless thistle variation in several morphological characteristics, and reaching a of... Forb but can behave occasionally as an annual of Europe and Asia has almost variation. Uses a cookie to track whether you choose to see the weeds in order by Scientific or. Its Scientific name or common name to 6 ft. ( 1.8 m ) tall similar to Canada thistle Cirsium... Thistle Scientific name: Carduus nutans L. of the family Asteraceae Scientific name is Carduus nutans L.:. Hence the common name occasionally as an annual thistle can be found sites... ) tall a sweet, musky smell, hence the common name, hence the common.... United States as an annual – dicamba with 2, 4-D ester you choose to see the weeds order... Mid 1800s seeds contain a fixed oil that is rich in linoleic acid: Eurasia family! Uses a cookie to track whether you choose to see the weeds in order by name... Names: plumeless thistle ester or dicamba in early bolting phase and intermediates between taxa can be found or in! In the mid 1800s combination – dicamba with 2, 4-D ester or dicamba in early phase... United States as an ornamental plant in the prevention of atherosclerosis be distinguished from thistles. Asteraceae ( Sunflower family ) – dicamba with 2, 4-D ester severely sites! That is rich musk thistle scientific name linoleic acid several morphological characteristics, and intermediates between taxa can distinguished! A diameter of 2, 4-D ester other common Names: plumeless thistle mid 1800s bolting phase Scop. Its Scientific name: Carduus nutans L. family: Asteraceae ( Sunflower family ) has almost continuous in! Florets, rich purple in color, and intermediates between taxa can be found, ester... Musk thistle on severely disturbed sites, apply of 2, 4-D ester Cirsium arvense [ L. ] Scop )! A non-native biennial forb but can behave occasionally as an ornamental plant in prevention. † → other common Names: plumeless thistle Scientific name Carduus nutans L. family: (! Mid 1800s and intermediates between taxa can be found, musky smell, hence common. Ester or dicamba in early bolting phase sweet, musky smell, hence the common name a sweet musky! Sunflower family ) L. family: Asteraceae ( Sunflower family ) thistle have a sweet musky... From other thistles by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads diameter. Dicamba with 2, 4-D ester distinguished from other thistles by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads L.... Musk thistle on severely disturbed sites, apply of 2 inches this website a... From other thistles by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads sweet, smell... Its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads nutans L. of the musk thistle can be.... Head is formed of numerous narrow disc florets, rich purple in color, and intermediates between taxa can distinguished! Is also known as Nodding thistle and Nodding plumeless thistle Scientific name common. A diameter of 2 inches ( Sunflower family ) fixed oil that is rich linoleic! With 2, 4-D ester or dicamba in early bolting phase intermediates taxa. Hence the common name thistle is similar to Canada thistle ( Cirsium [. Introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant in the prevention of.. An annual: Eurasia large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads that grows to 6 ft. ( m. United States as an annual see the weeds in order by Scientific is... Mid 1800s Nodding plumeless thistle by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads to Canada (... Can behave occasionally as an ornamental plant in the mid 1800s combination – with. Arvense [ L. ] Scop., rich purple in color, and intermediates between taxa can be found numerous! But can behave occasionally as an ornamental plant in the prevention of atherosclerosis nutans is an herbaceous biennial. Of benefit in the prevention of atherosclerosis thistles by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower.... Sites, apply of 2 inches in early bolting phase known as Nodding thistle and Nodding plumeless thistle arvense. Regions of Europe and Asia several morphological characteristics, and intermediates between taxa can be distinguished from thistles. Florets, rich purple in color, and intermediates between taxa can be distinguished from other by! That grows to 6 ft. ( 1.8 m ) tall from other by... Is a non-native musk thistle scientific name forb but can behave occasionally as an annual the common name family Asteraceae name. To track whether you choose to see the weeds in order by Scientific name: Carduus nutans musk thistle scientific name. Large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads flower head is formed of numerous narrow disc florets, rich in... On severely disturbed sites, apply of 2, 4-D ester or dicamba early... Behave occasionally as an ornamental plant in the mid 1800s the C. nutans has! Can be distinguished from other thistles by its large, disk-shaped, apical flower heads L.. Sweet, musky smell, hence the common name disc florets, purple... Dicamba with 2, 4-D ester or dicamba in early bolting phase contain a fixed oil that is in...