Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Cirsium Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr. (ed. 4) , 334 (1754)
 Description

Biennial or perennial herbs, rarely annual. Stems winged or not. Hairs bristly, or soft and multicellular, or cobwebby. Lvs alternate, sessile, entire or pinnatifid or pinnatisect, dentate; lobes and teeth spine-tipped. Capitula homogamous, cylindric, ovoid or globose, solitary or in corymbs or clusters. Involucral bracts in several series, deltoid, lanceolate or linear; hairs cobwebby or 0; outer bracts usually spine-tipped, often spreading. Receptacle flat; scales numerous, setaceous. Florets ☿ or unisexual, all tubular. Corolla glabrous, 5-lobed, usually purple, sometimes white or yellow. Anthers acute at apex, with basal appendages 0.5–1.5 mm long; filaments ciliate. Style branches linear, erect, appressed. Achenes obovoid, weakly flattened, glabrous, smooth; achene insertion basal; pappus hairs in several rows, soft, silvery, plumose, united at base into a ring.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
Number of species in New Zealand within Cirsium Mill.
CategoryNumber
Exotic: Fully Naturalised4
Total4
 Bibliography
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Miller, P.: The Gardeners Dictionary. Edition 4. London.