Description: Arizona thistle, Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum, California, White Mountains, Crooked Creek, Deep Springs Valley drainage, elevation 3173 m (10410 ft). Also visible are curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius intermontanus) and royal beardtongue (Penstemon speciosus). This native upland thistle is widespread across the interior southwestern United States from eastern California to eastern Utah and western New Mexico, south to adjacent northern Mexico, generally in the higher mountains. It has been found as high as 3600 m (about 12000 feet), but in the White Mountains appears restricted to the subalpine bristlecone-limber pine forest belt. Here it is found in small colonies connected by underground runners in dry, shallow, often rocky soils, here on dolomite, but also known on granite. The reputation of its genus notwithstanding, this species scarcely shows any tendency toward weediness or disturbed habitats, at least in its native range. The flowers are pollinated mainly by hummingbirds and bees. Even scholarly references like Intermountain Flora and Flora of North America refer to plants of Arizona thistle as being "wickedly" or "viciously" spiny. From the few specimens I have ever collected, I can indeed attest that sturdy leather gloves are as butter to them (not to mention the fingers inside). The plywood end of a plant press is the only sure defense. Date: 28 July 2016, 08:58. Source:
Arizona thistle, Cirsium arizonicum var. arizonicum. Author:
Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA. Camera location
37° 30′ 18.07″ N, 118° 10′ 28.06″ W View all coordinates using:
OpenStreetMap 37.505019; -118.174462.
