Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. Family - Asteraceae. Common Names(s) - bull thistle, common thistle, Scotch thistle, Scottish thistle, spear thistle, Skotse dissel, speerdissel, chardon lancéolé, chardon vulgaire, gros chardon, piqueu, cardo, cardo-de-costela, cardo-negro. Synonym(s) -Cirsium lanceolatum, Carduus lanceolatus, Carduus vulgaris.

Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

0

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=1, n=-1

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

1

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

1

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

1

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

1

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range?

y=-2, ?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

y

1.5

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

1.5

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

3

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

1.5

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.10

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

y

1

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

0

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

2

0

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

-1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

18.5

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence.

1.02

1.03

2.01

(1) Native to Macaronesia: Portugal-Azores; Northern Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia;Western Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey; Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation - Ciscaucasia, Dagestan; Western Siberia; Soviet Middle Asia: Kasahkstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan; China - Xinjiang; Indian Subcontinent: Pakistan; Europe:Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, ALbania, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy, Romania, France, Portugal, Spain.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?104163 [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

2.02

(1) Native to Macaronesia: Portugal-Azores; Northern Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia;Western Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey; Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation - Ciscaucasia, Dagestan; Western Siberia; Soviet Middle Asia: Kasahkstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan; China - Xinjiang; Indian Subcontinent: Pakistan; Europe:Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine, ALbania, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy, Romania, France, Portugal, Spain.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?104163 [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

2.03

(1) USDA hardiness zones 3a-8b.

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32173/ [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

2.04

(1) Naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Melanesia and Polynesia.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?104163 [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

2.05

(1) Naturalized in Africa, temperate Asia, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, s. South America, Melanesia, Polynesia.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?104163 [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

3.01

(1) Naturalized in Africa, temperate Asia, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, s. South America, Melanesia, Polynesia.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?104163 [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

3.02

(1) "It is a widespread weed that can grow in a wide range of environments but is most troublesome in recently or repeatedly disturbed areas such as pastures, overgrazed rangelands, recently burned forests, forest clearcuts, roads, ditches, fences."

(1) http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/bull-thistle.pdf[Accessed 2009 Feb 6].

3.03

(1) “Bull thistle is a serious weed of cereals in Italy, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in Argentina, ornamentals and forest nurseries in the U.S., pastures in Australia and Hun-gary, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), in Uruguay. It is a principal weed of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum spp.), and wheat in Australia cereals and orchards in Spain; pastures and rangelands in New Zealand, Tas-mania, Scotland, and the U.S.; and rice (Oryza sativa L.) in southeastern Australia.”

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

3.04

3.05

(1) Cirsium canescens is a rangeland weed. (2) Cirsium arvense is one of the most common weeds in the prairie provinces of Canada.

(1) Lamp, W. O. and M. K. McCarty (1981). "Biology and Ecology of the Platte Thistle (Cirsium canescens)." Weed Science 29(6): 686-692. (2) Hunter, J. H. (1996). "Control of Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) with Glyphosate Applied at the Bud vs Rosette Stage." Weed Science 44(4): 934-938.

4.01

(1) Stems have spiny wings and lobes on wings have stout spines.

(1) http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/bull-thistle.pdf[Accessed 2009 Feb 6].

4.02

No evidence of allelopathy.

4.03

(1) Not parasitic.

(1) http://www.macmerik.nl/flora/Asteraceae/Cirsium/Cirsium.html [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

4.04

(1) Goats will graze on C. vulgare. (2) Unpalatable to most stock. However, sheep will graze on plants in the rosetted stage.

(1) Harrington, K. C., W. B. Beskow, et al. (2008). Defoliation of Cirsium vulgare and Cirsium arvense rosettes by goats. Proceedings of the 16th Australian Weeds Conference, Cairns Convention Centre, North Queensland, Australia, 18-22 May, 2008. Queensland; Australia, Queensland Weed Society. (2) Klinkhamer, P. G. L. and T. J. d. Jong (1993). "Cirsium Vulgare (Savi) Ten." The Journal of Ecology 81(1): 177-191.

4.05

(1) No evidence of toxicity in Toxnet. (2) No evidence of toxicity in PubMed

(1) http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9]. (2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez [Accessed 2009 Feb 9].

4.06

No evidence

4.07

(1) No evidence of toxicity in Toxnet. (2) No evidence of toxicity in PubMed

(1) http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9]. (2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez [Accessed 2009 Feb 9].

4.08

Don't know.

4.09

(1) Full sun to part-shade. (2)Bull thistle does not tolerate shade

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32173/ [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9]. (2)http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/weeds/Brochures/Bull-Thistle-factsheet.pdf [Accessed 22 June 2009]

4.10

(1) Soil pH requirements: 5.1 to 8.5 (strongly acidic to alkaline).

(1) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32173/ [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

4.11

(1) Biennial herb 2-6 ft. (60-200 cm) tall when mature.

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php {Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

4.12

(1)Single plants spread quickly to form dense patches

(1)http://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/weeds/Brochures/Bull-Thistle-factsheet.pdf [Accessed 22 June 2009]

5.01

(1) A biennial or monocarpic herb. Terrestrial.

(1) Klinkhamer, P. G. L. and T. J. d. Jong (1993). "Cirsium Vulgare (Savi) Ten." The Journal of Ecology 81(1): 177-191.

5.02

(1) Asteraceae

5.03

(1) Biennial, sometimes annual or monocarpic perennial.

(1) http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/bull-thistle.pdf[Accessed 2009 Feb 6].

5.04

(1) Biennial, sometimes annual or monocarpic perennial. Taproot is up to 28 inches long, the taproot does not spread but develops several smaller lateral roots.

(1) http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/weeds/bull-thistle.pdf[Accessed 2009 Feb 6].

6.01

No evidence.

6.02

(1) Reproduces by seed.

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

6.03

(1) Hybridizes naturally

(1) Klinkhamer, P. G. L. and T. J. d. Jong (1993). "Cirsium Vulgare (Savi) Ten." The Journal of Ecology 81(1): 177-191.

6.04

(1) C. vulgare is self-compatible.

(1) Leeuwen, B. H. v. (1981). "The Role of Pollination in the Population Biology of the Monocarpic Species Cirsium palustre and Cirsium vulgare." Oecologia 51(1): 28-32.

6.05

(1) A wide variety of insects pollinate C. vulgare.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

6.06

(1) Reproduces only by seed.

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

6.07

(1) Biennial that flowers and sets seed in the second year.

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

7.01

(1) C. vulgare seeds are dispersed on transport vehicles and farm machinery.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

7.02

(1) Disperal by people is due to the movement of livestock, vehicles, farm machines and plant products (seed and hay).

(1) http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html#INTRODUCTORY [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

7.03

(1) Possible plant contaminant. (1) C. vulgare seeds are dispersed long distances in contaminated hay.

(1) http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?104163 [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9]. (2) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

7.04

(1) Wind dispersed. (1) C. vulgare seeds are dispersed by wind.

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9]. (2) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

7.05

(1) C. vulgare seeds are dispersed by water.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

7.06

(1) C. vulgare seeds are dispersed in mud on the feathers of birds.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

7.07

(1) C. vulgare seeds are dispersed in the fur of animals.

(1) Mitich, L. W. (1998). "Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare." Weed Technology 12(4): 761-763.

7.08

Don't know. [seeds may be incidentally consumed by grazers in fields]

8.01

(1) Large individuals can produce tens of thousands of seeds.

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

8.02

(1) Study demonstrated that C. vulgare seeds can survive 1-4 years on the soil surface, 16 to >50 years when buried at depths greater than 40 mm and 30 months when buried at 150 mm depth.

(1) James, T. K. and A. Rahman (2003). Survival of Scotch thistle seed buried at three depths in four New Zealand soils. New Zealand Plant Protection, Volume 56, 2003. Proceedings of a conference, Chateau on the Park, Christchurch, New Zealand, 12-14 August 2003. S. M. Zydenbos. Rotorua; New Zealand, New Zealand Plant Protection Society.

8.03

(1) "Bull thistle is relatively easily controlled with herbicides. Several Agricultural Extension bulletins recommend 2,4-D at 0.5 kg/ha; dicamba at 0.15 kg/ha; picloram (not registered in California) at 1 kg/ha, and various tank mixes of these chemicals for control of bull thistle." (2) "Clopyralid, dicamba, MCPA, picloram, 2,4-D, metsulfuron, and chlorsulfuron will all kill bull and musk thistles. Timing of application is important. Autumn is a good time to control biennial thistles with herbicides because all live plants will be seedlings or rosettes, and plants are easiest to control in the seedling and rosette stages."

(1) http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=30&surveynumber=182.php [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9]. (2) http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html#INTRODUCTORY [Accessed 2009 Feb. 9].

8.04

(1) C. vulgare does not recover well from mowing.

(1) Klinkhamer, P. G. L. and T. J. d. Jong (1993). "Cirsium Vulgare (Savi) Ten." The Journal of Ecology 81(1): 177-191.

8.05

Don't know.