Cirsium vulgare

Common name: Spear Thistle

Meaning of name:

Cirsium is Latin for a species of thistle. Vulgare is from the Latin word vulgaris, meaning common.

Distribution:

Occurs in the south west of Western Australia. Also recorded from the east and south east of Australia.

Description:

A herb to 3 metres tall with purple flowers that can be produced throughout the year.

Notes:

This species is originally from Europe and western Asia.

References:

Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. Third edition, A.S. George 2019.

Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 2007.

Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.