Carduus nutans

Classification	Dicots
Family	Asteraceae
Family (Traditional)	Asteraceae
Genus	Carduus
Species:	Carduus nutans L.
Common Name	Musk Or Nodding Thistle; Nodding Plumeless Thistle
Growth Habit	forb
Plant Notes	**
Characteristics	Armaments: Yes; Milky Sap: No; Photosynthetic: Yes; Stipules: No; Woody Herbaceous: Herbaceous; Invasive Rank: KY-EPPC Severe Threat; Natural Area Presence: GILES; Natural Area Presence: GRSM; Natural Area Presence: LC; Natural Area Presence: LGS; Natural Area Presence: LULA; Natural Area Presence: PK; Duration: Annual; General Ecology: Terrestrial; Growth Habit: forb; Moisture Requirements: Sub-xeric; Moisture Requirements: Dry-mesic; Moisture Requirements: Mesic; Region of Origin: Asia; Region of Origin: Europe; Reproductive Phenology: May; Reproductive Phenology: June; Reproductive Phenology: July; Reproductive Phenology: August; Reproductive Phenology: September; Leaf Arrangement: alternate; Leaf Arrangement: basal; Leaf Complexity: simple; Leaf Dissection: 0.5; Leaf Fragrance: No; Leaf Persistance: Deciduous; Leaf Petiole Type: petiolate; Leaf Petiole Type: sessile; Leaf Type: broadleaf; Leaf Type: thistle-like; Leaf Venation: pinnate; Leaflet Margins: dentate; Leaflet Margins: entire; Leaflet Margins: lobed; Leaflet Number: 0; Anther Type: Basifixed; Base Flower Color: Purple; Carpel Number/Pistil: 1; Fruit Complexity: Simple; Fruit Dehiscence: No; Fruit Type: Cypsela; Fruit Wet/Dry: Dry; Hypanthium Present: No; Inflorescence Position: axillary; Inflorescence Position: terminal; Inflorescence Types: corymb/cyme/umbel; Inflorescence Types: head; Inflorescence Types: solitary; Ovary Position: Inferior; Overall Flower Symmetry: Actinomorphic; Ovules per Carpel: 1; Perianth Present: Yes; Petal Fusion: Yes; Petal Number: 5; Pistil Complexity: Simple; Pistil Number: 1; Placentation Type: Basal; Sepal Fusion: N/A; Sepal Number: N/A; Sexuality: monoclinous; Sporangium Arrangement: N/A; Stamen Number: 5; Tepal Number: N/A
C value	N/A
Status	Not Native; Invasive; AGCP (UPL), EMP (UPL) (NWPL); TN[SNA] KY[SNA] (State Rank); GNR (Global Rank)
Specimen(s)	View and Download Specimen Details »

** Not applicable or data not available.

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Species Distribution Map

This species has been reported in the counties highlighted in the interactive distribution map below. Click on a county to display the its name. Click the question mark icon () to view additional information about the ecoregions shown. In the map legend, there are links to toggle the visibility of the ecoregions and/or their labels. In addition, clicking on an ecoregion name will highlight that region on the map.

State Boundaries
Counties
Counties - Species Present

Ecoregions

Southeastern Plains
- Blackland Prarie
Blue Ridge Mountains
Ridge and Valley
Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Mountains
Allegheny Plateau

Interior Plateau
- Bluegrass Region
- Nashville Basin
- Pennyroyal Karst Plain
- Western Highland Rim
- Eastern Highland Rim

Interior River Valleys and Hills
- Shawnee / Caseyville Hills
Mississippi Alluvial Plain
Mississippi Valley Loess Plains
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Synonyms

Synonym	Full Citation
Carduus macrocephalus	Carduus macrocephalus Coss.
Carduus macrolepis	Carduus macrolepis Peterm.
Carduus nutans subsp. leiophyllus	Carduus nutans subsp. leiophyllus
Carduus nutans subsp. macrocephalus	Carduus nutans subsp. macrocephalus
Carduus nutans subsp. macrolepis	Carduus nutans subsp. macrolepis
Carduus nutans subsp. nutans	Carduus nutans subsp. nutans
Carduus nutans var. leiophyllus	Carduus nutans var. leiophyllus
Carduus nutans var. macrocephalus	Carduus nutans var. macrocephalus (Desf.) B.Boivin
Carduus nutans var. vestitus	Carduus nutans var. vestitus (Hallier) B.Boivin
Carduus thoermeri	Carduus thoermeri Weinm.

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort.

Counties included on distribution map: Anderson (KY), Barren (KY), Campbell (KY), Carroll (KY), Christian (KY), Clark (KY), Clinton (KY), Estill (KY), Fayette (KY), Fleming (KY), Franklin (KY), Gallatin (KY), Garrard (KY), Hickman (KY), Jefferson (KY), Kenton (KY), Larue (KY), Logan (KY), Madison (KY), Marion (KY), Marshall (KY), Mercer (KY), Monroe (KY), Montgomery (KY), Muhlenberg (KY), Nelson (KY), Oldham (KY), Powell (KY), Rockcastle (KY), Rowan (KY), Scott (KY), Shelby (KY), Trigg (KY), Trimble (KY), Warren (KY), Benton (TN), Bledsoe (TN), Campbell (TN), Cannon (TN), Carroll (TN), Coffee (TN), Davidson (TN), DeKalb (TN), Dyer (TN), Fentress (TN), Franklin (TN), Giles (TN), Greene (TN), Grundy (TN), Hamblen (TN), Hamilton (TN), Haywood (TN), Henderson (TN), Houston (TN), Jackson (TN), Jefferson (TN), Knox (TN), Loudon (TN), Macon (TN), Marion (TN), Maury (TN), Montgomery (TN), Putnam (TN), Rutherford (TN), Sequatchie (TN), Sevier (TN), Shelby (TN), Smith (TN), Stewart (TN), Sullivan (TN), Sumner (TN), Unicoi (TN), Van Buren (TN), Washington (TN), White (TN), Williamson (TN), Wilson (TN)

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: APSC, BEREA, BOON, EKY, ETSU, HTTU, KNK, MDKY, MEM, MTSU, SWMT, TENN, UCHT, UOS

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1956 - 2016

Accession No. (click for full details)	County	State	Coll. Date	Collector & Collection No.	Herbarium & Herbarium Name Used
N/A	Madison	Kentucky	16 Jun 1993	Gary W. Libby 422	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244902	Powell	Kentucky	05 May 2001	Timothy J. Weckman 6305	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244738	Estill	Kentucky	10 Jun 1987	Richard G. Guetig 176	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244811	Madison	Kentucky	12 Jun 1993	Susan Wind 89	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA002865	Monroe	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA002862	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA002864	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
31973000005456	Gallatin	Kentucky	09 Jun 1984	Thieret, John 55063	KNK Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237403	Sequatchie	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237407	Shelby	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237400	Rutherford	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237376	Davidson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237395	Van Buren	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0241521	Hamilton	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237445	Anderson	Kentucky			TENN Carduus nutans
31234100244720	Clinton	Kentucky	25 Jul 1999	Mark A. Gorton 99-806	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244894	Muhlenberg	Kentucky	02 Jun 1993	Landon E. McKinney 5643	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244860	Marion	Kentucky	18 Jun 1994	M. H. McGuffey 49	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244852	Madison	Kentucky	23 Jun 1978	J. Stuart Lassetter 2965	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244837	Madison	Kentucky	30 Jun 1993	Timothy J. Weckman 401	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244753	Franklin	Kentucky	11 Jun 1957	Mary E. Wharton 10842	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244845	Madison	Kentucky	20 Jun 1975	J. Stuart Lassetter 2420	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244787	Jefferson	Kentucky	22 Jun 2005	Patricia D. Haragan 25167	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244779	Hickman	Kentucky	12 Jul 1984	Raymond Athey 4938	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA002863	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237381	Giles	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237396	Williamson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237380	Franklin	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237384	Henderson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237378	Dyer	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
31234100244696	Anderson	Kentucky	14 Jun 1978	William S. Bryant 461	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244746	Fayette	Kentucky		Danny Husband 190	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244829	Madison	Kentucky	12 Jun 1993	D. Collinsworth 45	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244795	Logan	Kentucky	12 Jun 1976	Raymond Athey 3415	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA002867	Cannon	Tennessee			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA002858	Garrard	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
31973000005454	Campbell	Kentucky	03 Jun 1982	Buddell, George 616	KNK Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237383	Hamblen	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237410	White	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237440	Clark	Kentucky			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237446	Warren	Kentucky			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237390	Loudon	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237402	Rutherford	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
APSC0121905	Oldham	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074191	Warren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
31234100757390	Barren	Kentucky	09 Jun 1979	George P. Johnson 741	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244712	Clark	Kentucky	20 Jun 1978	Elizabeth M. Browne 78D1.1	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA002868	DeKalb	Tennessee			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA002860	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA002861	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
31973000005457	Kenton	Kentucky	24 Jun 1978	Applegarth, Patrick 357	KNK Carduus nutans
MDKY00010313	Clark	Kentucky			MDKY Carduus nutans
MDKY00010316	Fleming	Kentucky			MDKY Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237398	Rutherford	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237379	Grundy	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237409	Unicoi	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237404	Sequatchie	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237391	Macon	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237399	Rutherford	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237408	Sullivan	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
APSC0027226	Stewart	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
31234100244886	Montgomery	Kentucky	28 Jun 1984	Julian Campbell 521	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100244878	Mercer	Kentucky	28 Jun 1976	Donald Pelly 3	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA002866	Rockcastle	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
31973000005455	Carroll	Kentucky	09 Jun 1984	Thieret, John 55064	KNK Carduus nutans
MDKY00010315	Rowan	Kentucky			MDKY Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237441	Logan	Kentucky			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237406	Shelby	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237374	Carroll	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
UCHT007920	Benton	Tennessee	17 Jun 1998	Don Sudbrink	UCHT Carduus nutans
APSC0108275	Nelson	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027234	Montgomery	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074160	Warren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027227	Montgomery	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0085851	Jefferson	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074159	Warren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027233	Stewart	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
31234100244803	Madison	Kentucky	16 Jun 1993	Gary W. Libby 422	EKY Carduus nutans
ETSU007991	Knox	Tennessee			ETSU Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237386	Jackson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237392	Maury	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237382	Greene	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237397	Wilson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237375	Davidson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237393	Maury	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
APSC0050758	Larue	Kentucky	26 May 1993	Landon McKinney	APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027220	Trigg	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
HTTU002700	Hamilton	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002695	Fentress	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002690		Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002689	Putnam	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002693	Williamson	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU028911	White	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
MTSU021340	Wilson	Tennessee	01 May 1987	Fred Funte 4	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021328	Rutherford	Tennessee	25 Apr 1985	Kenneth Hayes	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021325	Rutherford	Tennessee	05 Jun 1984	R. J. Beel 7	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021324	Rutherford	Tennessee	16 Jun 1981	Jeff Peery 13	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021322	Rutherford	Tennessee	06 Jul 1981	Joao M. C. Ribeiro 41	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021341	Rutherford	Tennessee	20 Apr 1992	Theresa DePalo 22	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021348	Davidson	Tennessee	22 Apr 1997	Josh Rogers 32	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021332	Davidson	Tennessee	29 Apr 1986	Bill Mastalerz 33	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021337	Rutherford	Tennessee	29 Apr 1990	Hope Dodson 46	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021338	Rutherford	Tennessee	21 Apr 1991	Gina Rigney 26	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021349	Rutherford	Tennessee	29 Apr 1999	Lori Bruner 48	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021347	Knox	Tennessee	20 Apr 1997	Lora Carlson 42	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021352	Giles	Tennessee	01 May 2004	Lindsey Jett 48	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021318	Rutherford	Tennessee	24 Jun 1994	Terri Hogan 178-94	MTSU Carduus nutans
31234100244761	Franklin	Kentucky	09 Jul 1956	Mary E. Wharton 10256	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA002859	Garrard	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237394	Putnam	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237388	Knox	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237387	Jefferson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237371	Benton	Tennessee	17 Jun 1998	Don Sudbrink	TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237373	Campbell	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237405	Sevier	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
000857	Carroll	Tennessee	01 Jun 1970	Betty Ann Thompson 13	BOON Carduus nutans
APSC0069899	Shelby	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027237	Montgomery	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027235	Houston	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
UCHT029716	Hamilton	Tennessee			UCHT Carduus nutans
UCHT029714	DeKalb	Tennessee			UCHT Carduus nutans
UCHT029715	Marion	Tennessee			UCHT Carduus nutans
UCHT039724	Grundy	Tennessee			UCHT Carduus nutans
MTSU021319	Davidson	Tennessee	09 May 2001	Angela Cathey 165	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021342	Rutherford	Tennessee	27 Apr 1992	M. Derek Goodman 46	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021334	Coffee	Tennessee	27 Apr 1987	Kim A. Davis 35	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021354	Maury	Tennessee	26 Apr 2007	Jill Price 45	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021330	Rutherford	Tennessee	12 Apr 1986	Jeri Johnson	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021336	Davidson	Tennessee	27 Apr 1986	Monteia Moore 39	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021346	Cannon	Tennessee	25 Apr 1997	Ashley Drake 21	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021344	Rutherford	Tennessee	29 Apr 1995	Kenya Beverly 44	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021351	Rutherford	Tennessee	24 Apr 2000	Mary Etta Boulden 50	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021321	Davidson	Tennessee	20 Jun 1981	James Bonner 12	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021350	Williamson	Tennessee	30 Apr 2000	Melanie Messina 20	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021345	Rutherford	Tennessee	01 May 1995	Cristina Scola 32	MTSU Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0243817	Knox	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237385	Henderson	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
UOS00715	Franklin	Tennessee	05 Jun 2007	Mary P. Priestley	UOS Carduus nutans
UOS00713	Franklin	Tennessee	06 Jun 1996	Douglas E. Kennemore, Jr.	UOS Carduus nutans
UOS00714	Franklin	Tennessee	06 Jun 1996	Douglas E. Kennemore, Jr.	UOS Carduus nutans
31234100244704	Barren	Kentucky	27 May 1993	Charles J. Lapham 48	EKY Carduus nutans
31234100389640	Madison	Kentucky	11 Oct 1993	Gary W. Libby 190	EKY Carduus nutans
BEREA022919	Monroe	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA002857	Clark	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
MDKY00010314	Logan	Kentucky			MDKY Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237377	DeKalb	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237389	Loudon	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237401	Rutherford	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
APSC0121906	Nelson	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027229	Smith	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027228	Stewart	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027219	Stewart	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074194	Barren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074156	Warren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027223	Davidson	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074158	Warren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027236	Montgomery	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027218	Stewart	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0107389	Trimble	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074157	Warren	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
SWMT04196	Williamson	Tennessee	12 Jun 1982	Rick Sullivan	SWMT Carduus nutans
BEREA025750	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
BEREA025751	Madison	Kentucky			BEREA Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0237372	Bledsoe	Tennessee			TENN Carduus nutans
APSC0027224	Montgomery	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027232	Franklin	Tennessee			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0080195	Gallatin	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0074192	Marshall	Kentucky			APSC Carduus nutans
APSC0027225	Christian	Kentucky	10 Jun 1968		APSC Carduus nutans
ETSU011763	Washington	Tennessee			ETSU Carduus nutans
ETSU011766	Sullivan	Tennessee			ETSU Carduus nutans
ETSU011764	Washington	Tennessee			ETSU Carduus nutans
ETSU011762	Washington	Tennessee			ETSU Carduus nutans
ETSU011765	Washington	Tennessee			ETSU Carduus nutans
HTTU002698	Maury	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002691	Williamson	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002699	Haywood	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002697	Wilson	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002692	Williamson	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002688	DeKalb	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
MEM007077	Marshall	Kentucky	05 Jun 1972	Raymond Athey 1794	MEM Carduus nutans
MEM003427	Scott	Kentucky	08 Jun 1961	William Wayman s.n.	MEM Carduus nutans
MEM009451	Warren	Kentucky	08 Jun 1971	Kenneth A. Nicely 3256	MEM Carduus nutans
TENN-V-0243810	Knox	Tennessee	07 Jun 2016	B.J. Crain 91	TENN Carduus nutans
HTTU002701	Sumner	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002685	Smith	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002694		Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002686	Sumner	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002684	Putnam	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002687	DeKalb	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
HTTU002683	DeKalb	Tennessee			HTTU Carduus nutans
MTSU021353	Franklin	Tennessee	19 Apr 2005	Karen Williams 60	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021335	Davidson	Tennessee	23 Apr 1991	Brian White 28	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021343	Rutherford	Tennessee	15 Apr 1992	Mary Penuel 39	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021329	Davidson	Tennessee	19 Apr 1986	Jim Ohlsson 11	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021323	Rutherford	Tennessee	15 Jun 1981	Teri Coats 11	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021339	Rutherford	Tennessee	27 Apr 1986	Benedicta Kurunwune 47	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021331	Rutherford	Tennessee	08 Apr 1986	Jeri Johnson 11	MTSU Carduus nutans
MTSU021333	Rutherford	Tennessee			MTSU Carduus nutans

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Carduus nutans

Related Links

Species Distribution Map

Ecoregions

Synonyms

Specimens and Distribution

Plant Photos