Genus: Cirsium

thistle

Species of Cirsium are difficult to key because they often form hybrids. You may need to use technical descriptions in other floras to identify a species. References: Moore and Frankton (1974), Keil (2006).

Family

Asteraceae (aster family)

This Genus’s Species in New England:

• Cirsium altissimum
• Cirsium arvense
• Cirsium discolor
• Cirsium flodmanii
• Cirsium horridulum
• Cirsium muticum
• Cirsium palustre
• Cirsium pumilum
• Cirsium vulgare

Visit this genus in the Dichotomous Key