ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Cirsium vulgare
 
 
 CLASS:    DICOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    ASTERALES
 FAMILY:   ASTERACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Cirsium vulgare
 AUTHORITY:  (Savi) Tenore
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    BULL THISTLE
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: CIVU
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     CULTURAL
       AGRICULTURAL FIELD
         PASTURELAND
       SUCCESSIONAL FIELD
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   ADAMS           BOND            BOONE           BROWN           BUREAU
   CALHOUN         CARROLL         CASS            CHAMPAIGN       CHRISTIAN
   CLARK           CLAY            CLINTON         COLES           COOK
   CRAWFORD        CUMBERLAND      DEKALB          DOUGLAS         DUPAGE
   EDGAR           EDWARDS         FORD            FRANKLIN        FULTON
   GREENE          GRUNDY          HAMILTON        HARDIN          HENDERSON
   HENRY           IROQUOIS        JACKSON         JASPER          JEFFERSON
   JO DAVIESS      KANE            KANKAKEE        KENDALL         KNOX
   LAKE            LASALLE         LAWRENCE        LEE             LIVINGSTON
   LOGAN           MCDONOUGH       MCHENRY         MCLEAN          MACON
   MACOUPIN        MADISON         MARION          MARSHALL        MASON
   MERCER          MONTGOMERY      MORGAN          MOULTRIE        OGLE
   PEORIA          PERRY           PIATT           PIKE            POPE
   RANDOLPH        RICHLAND        ST. CLAIR       SANGAMON        SCHUYLER
   SCOTT           SHELBY          STARK           UNION           VERMILION
   WABASH          WARREN          WAYNE           WHITE           WILL
   WILLIAMSON      WINNEBAGO
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Dicot-herb
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Primary
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Serrate   Lobed  (pinnately)
    LEAF VENATION:  Pinnate
    LEAF SHAPE:     Lanceolate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Head
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   Violet
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Epigynous
    FRUIT:   Achene
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  Europe
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Common
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Biennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      7         MONTH END-      8
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     C02 FIXATION:  C3
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Cut-over woods; wastes; roads; railroads.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     DISTURBANCE INDICATOR:   No
     SOIL CHEMISTRY INDICATOR:   None
     GROWTH OF SPECIES IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS:
          GRAVEL         No data entered    SAND           No data entered
          SANDY LOAM     No data entered    LOAM           No data entered
          CLAY LOAM      No data entered    CLAY           No data entered
          DENSE CLAY     No data entered    ORGANIC SOIL   No data entered
          NEUTRAL pH     No data entered    ACIDIC SOIL    No data entered
          EXTREMELY ACID No data entered    SALINE SOIL    No data entered
          SODIC SOIL     No data entered    SODIC-SALINE   No data entered
          ROCKY OUTCROPS No data entered    GENTLE SLOPES  Good
          MODERATE SLOPE Fair               STEEP SLOPES   Poor
     HABITAT:   Moist   Dry
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     MYCORRHIZAE:   endomycorrhizal
 
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     ALLERGENIC:  Yes
     EDIBLE:  Yes
 
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:
         DEER VALUE:  Unknown
         UPLAND GAME VALUE:  Unknown
         WATERFOWL VALUE:  Unknown
         SMALL NON-GAME BIRD VALUE:    Yes    -   Fruit
         SMALL MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         AQUATIC MAMMAL VALUE:  Unknown
         FISH VALUE:  Unknown
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
     WILDLIFE COMMENTS:
         Goldfinches are fond of the fruit of this species and others in the genus.
 
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  Low        PROTEIN VALUE: Low
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   No
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Characteristic of overgrazed pastures, being avoided by livestock.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:
     WEEDINESS:   Economic
 
     MANAGEMENT-DETRIMENTAL:   Other
 
 
 MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
     Does not survive cultivation.
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Agricultural Experiment Station.  1981.  Weeds of the North Central States.
     Bulletin 772.  College of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-
     Champaign, Urbana.  303 pp.
Gleason, H. A.  1952.  The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
     northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.  3 vols.  The New York
     Botanical Garden, New York.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Cirsium vulgare
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015