Cirsium vulgare. Spear thistle only spreads by seed. Cirsium vulgare, the spear thistle, bull thistle, or common thistle, is a species of the Asteraceae genus Cirsium, native throughout most of Europe (north to 66°N, locally 68°N), Western Asia (east to the Yenisei Valley), and northwestern Africa (Atlas Mountains). Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) occurs widely on lowland and upland grassland . The flowers can range from yellow to orange-yellow, and are surrounded by thin spiny offshoots that can grow up to 5 cm long. Adult thistles were cut in 4 m2 plots on 4 different dates (Jun.-Aug.). SAFFRON THISTLE. The best general control of Spear Thistles is obtained by encouraging competition from useful plants. A WEED REPORT from the book Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States Bull thistle . Spear thistle has a relatively high content of copper (Salisbury, 1961). Leaves are obovate to lanceolate (spear-like), to 30 cm long and toothed to deeply lobed with spiny margins. We once calculated that nearly a third of a 6.5 acre pasture was covered in rosettes. Each plant lives for two years (like ragwort) producing a flatted rosette of leaves in year one and then the familiar ‘tree-like’ structure in year two. Long-term control is possible from herbicide treatment; spear thistle is susceptible to clopyralid and moderately susceptible to MCPA herbicides. The Weeds Act 1959 (7 & 8 Eliz.II c. 54) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom regarding the control of five injurious native weed species throughout the UK. The biological control of Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore in South Africa has been a recent oppor- tunistic project using insects … Preferred Habitat: Most soil types, especially new-sown turf, rough grass and waste ground. Thistles need controlling because they: • compete with grass for space, light, nutrients and water • are unpalatable to stock Spear thistle does, however, depend on wind dispersal for seeds on a parachute of hairs or pappus, but seeds usually fall to earth in the first 40m. SPEAR THISTLE. Canada thistle is a perennial weed that has soft green, deeply lobed, spear-like leaves and these leaves have sharp barbs on them. In a reseed, both root fragments and seed can cause an explosion of creeping thistles. Spear thistle (black thistle) Cirsium vulgare It is a tall biennial or short-lived monocarpic thistle, forming a rosette of leaves and a taproot up to 70 cm long in the first year, and a flowering stem 1–1.5 m tall in the second (rarely third or fourth) year. The flowers are purple in colour and made up of many little florets (tiny flowers), with spines on the stem and leaves. Spear thistle, bank thistle, bird thistle, black thistle, blue thistle, boar thistle, bull thistle, bur thistle, button thistle, common bull thistle, common thistle, Fuller's thistle, green thistle, plume thistle, roadside thistle, Scotch thistle, swamp thistle. You may find that repeated digging out of roots reduces the problem, but chemical control will provide a quicker solution. Spear Thistle only spreads by seed. The Nature Conservancy Director of Water Funds for South Africa, Louise Stafford, is inviting invasive species teams, mentors and experts to submit proposals for an invasive species clearing project in Atlantis, Western Cape. Vigorous pasture helps to restrict seedling establishment and growth, and management practices should be aimed at maintaining a vigorous and unbroken stand during the period when thistles are germinating. Mature plants are normally 30-50 cm tall, with flowers from July through to late autumn. Suggested method of management and control. Once controlled in the re-seed, it is rarely a problem in grazed fields except after poaching or other sward damage. In: Van Driesche, R., et al., 2002, Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States, USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-2002-04, 413 p. Pest Status of Weed. Although thistles attract pollinators and birds, the spiny leaves and stems keep grazers away. Thistlex ® is a very effective translocated product for both creeping and spear thistle. Scotch thistle generally has 1 main stem with numerous branches and broad spiny wings covered with dense woolly hairs, giving a whitish appearance. The stem leaves can grow up to 25 cm long and have a cobwebby texture. The weed competes effectively with crops for water, light and nutrients. Biological control of spear thistle, Cirsium vulgare (Asteraceae), in South Africa. After a […] Control spear thistle by digging them out or destroying the rosette when the plants are young and the soil is damp. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 37(1-3):199-205 The rosette leaves are deeply lobed (more so than a Scotch thistle… Other pests Latin Name: Cirsium vulgare. Bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore, is an invasive thistle from Eurasia, found throughout the United States and in Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Cut stems were removed from half of the treated plots but were left where they fell on remaining plots. ... Control is generally best … Goldfinches and linnets feed on the seeds (Klinkhamer & de Jong, 1993, Moorcroft et al., 1997). Glyphosate at 0.5% provides effective control of seedling and adult plants, alternatively spot spray Lontrel® 6 ml/10 L (300 ml/ha) + wetting agent, from rosette stage to early flowering. Biology Spear thistle flowers in June and July but the leaf rosettes can survive for up to 4 years without flowering (Soil … treatment later in the season to control any late shooting thistles. Illyrian thistle is an erect annual or biennial herb 1.5 to 2 m high. Spear thistle control . Spear thistle’s form of defence is the most aggressive in Finland: strong, needle-sharp spines on both the leaf-blade margins and along the winged stem, the capitula’s involucral bracts end with a sting and even the surface of the leaves is covered in delicate spines. Category: Turf Weeds. Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) occurs widely on lowland and upland grassland and waste places. Know your thistles? A widespread and common thistle, the Spear thistle can be found on disturbed and cultivated ground, such as pastures, roadside verges and field edges from July to October. Where clover is an important constituent of the sward, a mixture of MCPA* and MCPB* herbicides is more appropriate. Zimmermann HG, 1991. Type of plant. Weeds. Biological control of spear thistle, Cirsium vulgate (Asteracea:), in South Africa. Although it is intimidating in appearance and can sometimes form large infestations, this thistle is not as challenging to control as many others and is mainly a problem in hay fields and pastures. Mature plants are normally 30-50 cm tall, with flowers from July through to late autumn. Thistle control options. It has the same whitish-grey, woolly appearance as Scotch thistle (O. acanthium). Creeping thistle can quickly spread in grassland areas and borders. “Spear thistle rosette” by John Tann is licensed under CC BY 2.0 US Non-native thistles have become major problems in agricultural landscapes and 22 states have designated them as noxious weeds. Each plant lives for 2 years (like ragwort) producing a flatted rosette of leaves in year one and then the familiar ‘tree-like’ structure in year two. An annual or short-term perennial herb with erect growth to 1.5 m tall. 2,4-D amine is the most cost effective of the hormone herbicides for Saffron Thistle control. Ecosystems Environ., 37: 199-205. Stems have spiny wings and are cobwebby. It is biennial and only spreads by seed. Growth: Up to 1.5m stem. Thickets of thistle crowd out forage grasses in pastures and rangelands, reducing crop yields and productivity. Progress with biological control of spear thistle. Agric. The plants can be cut each year before mid-July to prevent shedding of viable seed. Scientific Name. Timing of thistle control is crucial and the method used will vary according to the site: Spear thistle control methods. Bull thistle is a widespread biennial thistle originally from Europe and Asia, but now introduced throughout North America. seedling survival, growth, flowering and seed production in bull thistle. and waste places. Leaf margins of scotch thistle are cut or toothed, spiny and undulating. This method is not effective with creeping thistle since it tends to propagate through its roots rather than its seeds: fragments of root (rhizome) left in the soil after pulling/digging can remain dormant for The thistle will form a rosette in the first year then develop an erect flowering stem. and Milk thistle (Silybum) are less common but visually retain a lot of the same characteristics. Spear thistle Scientific name: ... Atlantis Aquifer Invasive Plant Control. 2,4-D and MCPA have been used for many years and are most effective on plants up to budding. It is unclear whether fire will completely kill bull thistle. Spear Thistle . Eliminating seed production is the most effective mechanical control technique. The weed competes effectively with crops for water, light and . Plant Protection News, No. Blanket wipers or wick applicators using 50% glyphosate can provide some selective control. 19:5. Long-term control is possible from herbicide treatment; spear thistle is susceptible to clopyralid* and moderately susceptible to MCPA* herbicides. Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), sow thistle (Sonchus spp.) It received Royal Assent on 16 July 1959, and aims to prevent the spread of the Broad Leaved Dock, Common Ragwort, Creeping Thistle, Curled Dock and the Spear Thistle. Flowers: Purple, flat topped flowers from July to … Once established, it can be difficult to eradicate permanently. Its classic thistle appearance - purple, fluffy-looking flowers sitting atop a spiny ball - may well … The Control of Scotch/Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) This biannual can infest new seeds, pastures, crop margins and fencelines. Lifecycle: Perennial. It is also naturalised in North America, Africa, and Australia and is an invasive weed in some areas. Spear thistle. Scotch thistle is an erect annual or biennial herb growing to 2m high and reproducing by seed and root pieces. Some fields retain a large seed-bank, and surprising proportions of land can be covered by the plant after reseeding. It is very safe to grass. 19. It is also possible to remove them by digging. Zimmermann HG, 1990. Considered noxious under the BC Weed Control Act, Canada thistle is commonly found on roadsides, cultivated fields, pastures, logged forests, riverbanks, and other disturbed areas. Only mature thistle plants may readily combust and their seed may already be … What to Control. Studies were conducted in Sierra Nevada, California, to determine whether cutting adult thistles (C. vulgare), near the root crown, might control thistle populations. Stems. If allowed to go to flower, the flower is a purple pom-pom shape that will be produced in clusters at the top of the plant. Areas in need of Thistle Weed Control. At rates required for high levels of control they usually cause some damage to clovers and medics but are safe in tillering wheat and barley crops. 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