Musk Thistle
 Family Asteraceae
Carduus nutans
Designation/Status
Arizona Noxious Weed List -
Not Listed
Federal Noxious Weed List – Not Listed
Origins
Native to Europe and Asia
Plant Characteristics
Life Cycle: Biennial or annual
herbaceous thistle. Bolting begins March to May with flowering
occurring in early June to mid-July. Seed may remain viable in
soil for up to 10 years.
Visual Appearance: Deeply lobed,
spiny, decurrent leaves, simple pappus hairs, large nodding heads,
and narrow involucral blade that is hairy and tapers gradually to
an awn.
Habitat
Most prevalent in disturbed
areas, but can invade deferred pastures, heavily grazed pastures
and native grasslands.
Control Measures
Mechanical and Cultural: Hand cutting
and mowing can provide some control if repeated over a number of
years, most effective when the base of the bud and the top of the
root crown are removed. Repeated hand chopping at ground level
just before anthesis
Biological: There are 93 European
insects that may be used for possible biological control,
Rhinocyllus conicusus or Trichosirocalus horridus are the most
accepted.
Chemical: Chemical control; 2,4-D is
the lowest cost, plants must be treated when applied 10-14 days
before bolting; Dicamba is used to extend the control season into
the spring; Picloram gives the best late-season control.
Other Points of Interest
First recorded sightings in
Pennsylvania around 1853
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