species 1,340 observations
Wheeler's Thistle
Cirsium wheeleri
Field notes
Cirsium wheeleri is a North American species of plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae. Common names include Wheeler's thistle. It is native to northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora) and the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada).
Cirsium wheeleri is a perennial herb up to 60 cm (2 feet) tall with a large taproots. Leaves have slender spines. There are one or more flower heads, each with white, pink, or pale purple disc florets but no ray florets. The plant grows in mountain meadows and open conifer forests.
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Caterpillars
Moths and butterflies raised on it
Painted Lady, Mylitta Crescent, Pale Crescent, American Lady
12
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Specialist bees
Bees whose young are raised on the pollen of it
Oblique Longhorn Bee, Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee, Horn-faced Leafcutter Bee, Hostile Leaf-cutter Bee
12
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Hosted animals
Gall makers, leaf miners and other animals living on or in it
Eight-spotted Flower Longhorn Beetle
1
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Plant eaters
Animals that feed on it
Kern's Flower Scarab, Black Bean Aphid, Wild Turkey, American Goldfinch
10
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Flower visitors
Pollinators and other flower visitors
Monarch, Sonoran Bumble Bee, Urbane Digger Bee, American Bumble Bee
96
Range
Greener is more native, amber more introduced; paler is less certain. How this was decided
Key traits
- Layer
- Herbaceous plants
- Light
- Full sun
- Moisture
- Moist
- Plant type
- Perennial Wildflower
From USDA PLANTS and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.