Seasonal Wild Flowers

Marsh Thistle

Cirsium palustre

Asteraceae

June to October

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Marsh Thistle

It grows in damp grassy places and open woodland.

Marsh Thistle is a native, perennial, rather stately herb,

growing up to 2m.

Flowerheads are in groups and up to 1.5cm.

Florets are reddish purple and anthers are blue-purple.

Flower buds are oval and bracts are purplish above and

green below - sometimes cottony.

The pappus is slightly feathery.

The stem is winged and spiked.

Upper leaves are narrow and spiked.

Lower leaves are lanceolate and pinnatifid.

Marsh Thistle, Ham Hill, Somerset

Upper stem and flowerheads

Flowerheads

Purple-red florets and purplish bracts

Blue-purple anthers

Feathery thistledown

Prickly stem and upper leaves

Lower leaves

Feeding hoverfly