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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: Marsh Thistle
Synonyms and Other Names: European swamp thistle, cirse ou chardon des marais, Carduus palustris Linnaeus
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification:
Biennials or monocarpic perennials, 30–200(–300) cm; clusters of fibrous roots.
Stems: single, erect, villous to tomentose with jointed trichomes, distally tomentose with fine, unbranched trichomes; branches 0–few, ascending, (short). Thick, with spiny lengthwise wings along stem; sometimes reddish; branching at the top.
Leaves: blades narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 15–30+ × 3–10 cm, margins shallowly to very deeply pinnatifid, narrow lobes separated by broad sinuses, spiny-dentate to lobed, main spines 2–6 mm, abaxial villous to tomentose with jointed trichomes, sometimes also thinly tomentose with fine unbranched trichomes, adaxial faces villous with septate trichomes or glabrate; basal often present at flowering, petioles spiny-winged, bases tapered; cauline many, sessile, gradually reduced and becoming widely spaced above, bases long-decurrent with prominently spiny wings; distal cauline deeply pinnatifid with few-toothed spine-tipped lobes. Thin, deeply lobed into pinnate segments, covered with loose matted hairs and spiny teeth along margins, up to 20 cm (8 in) long; basal leaves longer than those higher in the stem in flowering plants; leaves of basal rosettes (first year plants) are spiny, deeply lobed, long and hairy below.
Flowers: Spiny, purple flowerheads composed of disc flowers. Heads few–many in dense clusters at branch tips. Peduncles 0–1 cm. Involucres ovoid to campanulate, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.3 cm, thinly cobwebby tomentose with fine unbranched trichomes. Phyllaries in 5–7 series, strongly imbricate. greenish, or with purplish tinge, lanceolate to ovate (outer) or linear-lanceolate (inner), margins thinly arachnoid-ciliate, abaxial faces with narrow glutinous ridge, outer and middle appressed, entire, apices acute, mucronate or spines erect or spreading, weak, 0.3–1 mm; apices of inner phyllaries purplish, linear-attenuate, scarious, flat. Corollas lavender to purple (white), 11–13 mm, tubes 5–7 mm, throats 2–3 mm, lobes 3–4.5 mm; style tips 1.5–2 mm.
Fruits/Seeds: Fruit is a tiny achene, 3 mm long; attached to a pappus or thistledown. Cypselae tan to stramineous, 2.5–3.5 mm, apical collars 0.1–0.2 mm, shiny; pappi 9–11 mm. 2n = 34. Stems:
Size: 0.5-2 m (1.5-6.5 ft) tall.
Native Range:
Eurasia
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Hawaii |
Caribbean |
Interactive maps: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean
Nonindigenous Occurrences:
This introduction and subsequent invasion has established it on both sides of the Atlantic ocean in the northern latitudes. It was first recognized earlier this century in North America and collected in Newfoundland and New Hampshire. The earliest record in New England seems to be from East Andover, New Hampshire in 1902. The botanist who located this population of the plant in a "moist forest tangle" some 20 acres in size, couldn't figure out how it had gotten there, as it was more than a mile from any town or cultivation. Other early records come from South Boston (1908) and Newfoundland (1910). Though it is not clear how it arrived, it has slowly spread west and, to a lesser degree, south.
In Michigan, C. palustre is an introduced species that was transported from Western Europe in the early twentieth century, and has since established itself as an aggressive weed. It has spread voraciously from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where it was first collected in Marquette County in 1934, to the Lower Peninsula where it was assimilated by 1959. 1st Great Lakes report in1950 in Lake Superior. Also reported in St. Pierre and Miquelon; B.C., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Ont., Que.; Mass., Mich., N.H., N.Y., Wis.
Ecology: It prefers moist, acidic soils and is found along roadsides and in wetlands, forest edges and fields. It colonized primarily alkaline wetland habitats, like cedar swamps which are exposed by frequent breaks in cover, and to regions of great disturbance, like roadsides. Like other thistles, its seeds are readily dispersed by wind and water dispersal, as well as ingestion and deposit by birds. Flowering summer (Jul–Aug). Marshes, wet forests; 10–800 m
Means of Introduction: Unknown
Status: Noxious weed
Impact of Introduction:
It is considered a noxious weed and high priority invasive species.
This plant replaces native vegetation in open, undisturbed, natural areas including wet meadows, fields, and riparian areas; thereby reducing native species and threatening natural diversity. Additionally, it forms dense clumps in cut blocks, competing for moisture and nutrients with tree seedlings planted for reforestation. Tall stems can lead to snow press, permanently damaging tree seedlings.
The range of this pernicious weed in North America is rapidly expanding. It migrates vigorously along roadside ditches and by human transport, and continues to travel south. Invasively spreads through wetland communities, forming impenetrable spiny stands as it displaces native species. It has the potential to spread into boreal forest areas across the continent; in Europe it grows nearly to the Arctic Circle.
The rapid spread of C. palustre in Michigan (E. G. Voss 1972–1996, vol. 3) is indicative of its invasiveness.
Remarks:
Similar species: The native Marsh Thistle (Cirsium muticum) has non-spiny stems and flower heads. Other common invasive thistles include Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) which has spiny leaves but non-spiny stems and flower heads. Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) and Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) which have sharply spined leaves, stems and flower heads.
Spontaneous hybrids between C. palustre and C. arvense have been reported from England and other European countries (W. A. Sledge 1975) and can be expected wherever these species grow together in North America.
References
Flora of North America. 2008. www.eFloras.org
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg/invader_month/cirsium_invader.pdf
http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/education/factsheets/Cirsium_palustre.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/54814
Invasive Plant Council of BC. http://www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca/invasive-plants-bc/invasive-plant-watch/marsh-plume-thistle
Other Resources:
USDA/NRCS PLANTS Database
GLIFWC-Maps
Author: Ling Cao
Contributing Agencies: 
NOAA - GLERL
Revision Date: 12/10/2008 Citation for this information:
Ling Cao. 2010. Cirsium palustre. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=2702> Revision Date: 12/10/2008
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