* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Bull Thistle
Survey
Document related concepts
Plant secondary metabolism wikipedia , lookup
Ecology of Banksia wikipedia , lookup
History of botany wikipedia , lookup
Evolutionary history of plants wikipedia , lookup
Plant use of endophytic fungi in defense wikipedia , lookup
Plant breeding wikipedia , lookup
Ornamental bulbous plant wikipedia , lookup
Plant physiology wikipedia , lookup
Plant morphology wikipedia , lookup
Gartons Agricultural Plant Breeders wikipedia , lookup
Plant evolutionary developmental biology wikipedia , lookup
Plant ecology wikipedia , lookup
Flowering plant wikipedia , lookup
Sustainable landscaping wikipedia , lookup
Glossary of plant morphology wikipedia , lookup
Transcript
Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle, an introduced and naturalized invasive annual or biennial herbaceous plant that invades disturbed areas throughout the United State. Bull Thistle can invade almost any type of disturbed area, from forest clear-cuts to riparian areas to pastures where it can form dense thickets displacing other vegetation. The spiny nature of the plant renders it unpalatable to wildlife and livestock and reduces the forage potential of pastures. Bull Thistle is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. It is thought to have been introduced to the eastern United States during the colonial times and the western United States in the late 1800s. It is currently found in all 50 states. Habitat: Disturbed sites; prairies, marshes, roadsides. Leaves: Very spiny, pinnately divided into segments that can be lobed then toothed. Bull Thistle has a large purple flower Flowers: Head purple, 1 1/2"-2" wide, bracts with spiny tips; inflorescence of several heads; blooms June-Oct. Stems: The tall, spiny, winged stems (up to 7 feet tall) have many spreading stems. Reproduction: By seed and rhizomes. Control: Encouraging the development of healthy, dense native prairie vegetation can help prevent and reduce Canada thistle. A buffer zone free of Canada thistle should be maintained near important natural areas to prevent invasion. Plants within wind dispersal range of a site about to undergo restoration should be controlled prior to commencing work. Manual or Mechanical Control: In a high-quality natural area, repeated mowing or selective cutting close to the ground can reduce an infestation within three to The spines of Bull Thistle make it unpalatable for wildlife and livestock four years. Use a scythe or other sharp tool for selective cutting. The ideal time to cut or mow Canada thistle is prior to the flower buds opening because the plat’s food reserves are at their lowest point and seeds have yet to form. Cutting and mowing should be done at least three times during the growing season (June through September). Mowing after flowering will only spread the seed. Mowers should be cleaned if used in areas with thistle in seed. Plants cut eight of more days after flower have opened should be collected and removed from the site to prevent seed development form progressing. Cutting new shoots every twenty to thirty days for tow or three seasons can reportedly eradicate individual populations. It is much easier to eradicate Bull Thistle when it first appears Early spring burns tend to increase sprouting and reproduction. Late spring burns may discourage established Canada thistle plants but may also encourage further seed germination. Burns may, therefore, need to be conducted for three consecutive years. Chemical Control: Control of this species with herbicides in high-quality natural areas is not recommended because herbicides can cause more damage to native vegetation than the damage caused by Canada thistle. In other areas, Clopyralid or metsulfuron-methyl have been used effectively as foliar sprays. Researchers report good results form using a 12% a.i. solution of glyphosate during the early bolting stage when plants are 6-10 inches tall, during the bud to flowering stage, or when applied to rosettes in the fall. Remember that glyphosate is nonselective and will kill or harm any green plant that it contacts. Spot applications to control individual plans or stems are most effective with a wick applicator or hand sprayer using either Clopyralid or glyphosate. You can spot Bull Thistle in the winter, and then make a map of where it is on your property