Scientific Name | Cirsium eatonii var. eriocephalum (Cirsium scopulorum) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CISC3 |
Common Name | Alpine Thistle, Mountain Thistle, Frosty Ball | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 780840 |
Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Subalpine and alpine (10500 to 13500 ft.); open areas, meadows; windswept alpine ridges. Plant: Upright perennial, 8 to 32 inches tall; stout, spiney stem. Leaves: Basal and stem leaves, lanceolate 1 to 13 inches long, deeply pinnately-incised with lobes tipped by spines 1/2-inch long; smooth above, woolly-hairy below. Inflorescence: Clusters of very hairy flower heads, often nodding; densely-hairy bracts with spines 3/8 to 3/4-inch long; white to yellow or light pink disk florets in the center; no ray flowers. Bloom Period: July to September. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County