About Cirsium carolinianum (Walter) Fernald & Schub.
Cirsium carolinianum (Walter) Fernald & Schub. is a North American plant species belonging to the tribe Cardueae in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its common names include Carolina thistle, purple thistle, soft thistle, and smallhead thistle. This species is native to the central and southern United States, ranging from eastern Texas east to Virginia and the Carolinas, and north to the Ohio Valley. It is a biennial herb that can grow up to 180 cm, or 6 feet, tall, and has a relatively short taproot. Its leaf edges are lined with small, thin spines, which are much smaller than the spines found on closely related Cirsium species. Plants usually produce several flower heads, containing pinkish-purple, and rarely white, disc florets with no ray florets. Blooming occurs from April through July. Cirsium carolinianum grows in habitats including wooded areas, fields, and roadsides.
