Cirsium nuttallii

{{Short description|Species of thistle}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Cirsium nuttallii 5aIR.jpg

|image_caption =

|genus = Cirsium

|species = nuttallii

|authority = DC.

|synonyms_ref = [http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-17246 The Plant List, Cirsium nuttallii DC. ]

|synonyms =

• Carduus glaber Nutt. 1818 not Cirsium glabrum DC. 1805
• Carduus nuttallii (DC.) Pollard
• Carduus virginianus Bosc ex DC. 1838 not L. 1753
• Cnicus glaber (Nutt.) Elliott
• Cnicus nuttallii A.Gray

}}

Cirsium nuttallii, called Nuttall's thistle, is a North American species of plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. The species is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern and south-central United States, from eastern Texas to southeastern Virginia.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Cirsium%20nuttallii.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map]

Cirsium nuttallii is a biennial or perennial herb up to 350 cm (almost 12 feet) tall, with a large taproot. Leaves are up to 60 cm (24 inches) long with thin, green on the upper side but gray to white on the underside because of numerous woolly hairs; spines along the edges of the leaves. There are a few flower heads, each head with white, pink, purple or lavender disc florets but no ray florets.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066385 Flora of North America, Nuttall’s thistle, Cirsium nuttallii de Candolle ]