Musings

Friday, September 25, 2015

Creeping Thistle


Most of these have 'gone over' already but I came across one in reasonable fettle when I was doing the WeBS survey. It is Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense, and is one of our commonest thistles. It differs from Spear Thistle and Marsh Thistle in having smooth, furrowed stems. 
Despite being an important food plant for over 20 species of lepidoptera, many finches and other invertebrates, it is classified as an injurious weed under the Weeds Act (1959)!

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