Common Blue-sow-thistle
Common Blue-sow-thisle, Corscombe, Dorset
Florets
Buds and flowers - seen from below
Sticky hairs on upper stems
Leaves
Downy undersurface of lower leaf (right)
Habit - tall and straggly, on a hedgebank
Cicerbita macrophylla
Asteraceae
June to September
It is scattered throughout the country, but is less common in the
North, eastern areas and the far Southwest.
See the BSBI distribution map for Common Blue-sow-thistle
It is a neophyte which was first grown in UK gardens in 1820s
and first recorded as naturalised in the 1910s.
It grows on waste ground and hedge banks by rivers, ponds
and roads.
It is increasing.
Common Blue-sow-thistle is a tall, rhizomatous, perennial herb,
growing up to 2m.
The flowers are lilac and up to 3cm across.
The upper stems have sticky hairs (unlike other Blue-sow-thistles).
The leaves have triangular lobes and clasp the stem, as in othe
r Sow Thistles.
The lower leaves are downy underneath.
Although tall and straggly, Common Blue-sow-thistle is an
aggressive coloniser and can form large patches. due to its
long rhizomes,
Previous page: Common Meadow-rue
Next page: Common Centaury
Common Blue-sow-thisle, Corscombe, Dorset
Florets
Buds and flowers - seen from below
Sticky hairs on upper stems
Leaves
Downy undersurface of lower leaf (right)
Habit - tall and straggly, on a hedgebank
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