Canada thistle

From Turf Wiki

• Scientific Name: Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.

Canada thistle has smaller spines on the end of the leaves than does Canada thistle. The upper leaf surface is smooth.

Canada thistle is a biennial that forms a basal rosette during its first year and bolts to produce a seedhead during its second year. Unlike Bull thistle that forms a taproot, Canada thistle spreads by rhizomes

• Common Names: Canada thistle, Akkerdistel, Creeping thistle, Creeping Plume Thistle, Corn thistle, Cursed thistle, Field thistle, Ostrozen polny (Polish), Perennial thistle, Smallflowered thistle

• Climatic Zone: Temperate

• Geographic Distribution: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, East Asia, Australia

• Life Cycle: biennial

• Photosynthetic Apparatus: C3

• Major Identifying Characteristic: Small spines on ends of leaf. Smooth upper leaf surface.