Cirsium scariosum is a species of thistle known by the common names meadow thistle, elk thistle and dwarf thistle. It is native to much of western North America from Alberta and British Columbia, south to Baja California. There are also isolated populations on the Canadian Atlantic Coast, on the Mingan Archipelago in Québec, where it is called the Mingan thistle.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Elk Thistle being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Cirsium coloradense
- Cirsium hookerianum
- Cirsium rhizocephalum
- Cirsium foliosum
- Cirsium esculentum
- Cirsium drummondii
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Cirsium
- Species
- Cirsium scariosum
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