Cirsium vulgare (Savi 1798) Tenore 1835 (Family Asteraceae)


Plant

Leaves

Flower

Fruit

Height: 40-120cm
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal
Biennial, Persistent Seed Bank
Hermaphrodite, Flowering July - August (Earliest: 25.6)

Protective Chemicals
Flavonoids Apigenin, Genkwanin, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Scutellarin
Other Phenolics Caffeic, Coumaric, Ferulic, Hydroxybenzoic, Protocatechuic, & Vanillic Acids
Sterols Brassicasterol, Campesterol, Sitosterol, Stigmasterol

Biotopes:
Meadows
Flower Visitors:
Many Apidae

Several Nymphalidae

Gonepteryx rhamni

Pieris brassicae

Thymelicus sylvestris

Autographa gamma

Several Syrphidae

Paracorymbia maculicornis

Adelphocoris lineolatus

Closterotomus norwegicus

Chrysoperla carnea
Seed Dispersal: Wind
Parasites:
Golovinomyces cichoracearum

Puccinia cnici

Puccinia cnici-oleracei

Aethes cnicana Larva (Seeds & Stem Borer)

Scrobipalpa acuminatella Larva

Agonopterix subpropinquella Larva (Leaf Miner)

Several Agromyzidae

Several Tephritidae Larvae
(Flower & Stem Galls)

Cheilosia grossa Larva (Root & Stem Borer)

Cheilosia variabilis Larva (Root & Stem Borer)

Palloptera umbellatarum Larva (Flower Gall)

Agapanthia villosoviridescens Larva (Stem Borer)

Ceratapion carduorum Larva (Stem Borer)

Ceratapion onopordi Larva (Stem Borer)

Lixus pulverulentus Larva (Stem Borer)
Possible Parasites:
Protearomyia nigra Larva (Stem Borer)

Oedemera nobilis Larva (Stem Borer)
Herbivores:
Vanessa cardui

Several Tortricidae

Autographa gamma

Diachrysia chrysitis Larva

Epiblema scutulana Larva

Agonopterix arenella Larva

Ametastegia tenera

Cassida rubiginosa

Neocrepidodera transversa

Phyllobius pyri Larva

Forficula auricularia
Possible Herbivores:
Anania perlucidalis Larva

Udea lutealis Larva

Agapeta hamana Larva

Celypha lacunana

Several Chrysomelidae
Sapivores:
Several Aphididae

Several Miridae

Tingis cardui
Possible Sapivores:
Several Cicadellidae

Apolygus lucorum

Lygus pratensis

Palomena prasina

Enoplops scapha

Centrotus cornutus Nymph
Florivores:
Eupithecia satyrata

Several Curculionidae Larvae
Possible Florivores:
Eupithecia centaureata

Cnephasia pasiuana
Possible Granivores:
Eurygaster maura

Liorhyssus hyalinus

Ecological Flora of the British Isles
Skye Flora: Spear Thistle


Pictures © 2003, 2004, 2005 J.K. Lindsey

Caution

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