About Cirsium neomexicanum A.Gray
Cirsium neomexicanum is a tall plant that typically grows over 2 meters in height. It produces an erect stem that may bear webby fibers and long, stiff spines. Its sparse leaves are greenish-gray, hairy, and very spiny. The mostly bare stems hold inflorescences at their tips, each consisting of one or more large flower heads with rounded bases. The phyllaries of these heads are covered in long, curving spines. The largest flower heads can reach up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) in diameter. The heads are filled with white, lavender, or pink disc florets, and do not produce any ray florets. Its fruit is a flat brown achene with a long pappus that can grow up to 2 centimeters long. Unlike many other thistle species, Cirsium neomexicanum does not tend to be a troublesome noxious weed.
