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{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Carduus pycnocephalus 2.jpg
| image_caption = ''Carduus pycnocephalus'' flowers (Italy).
| genus = Carduus
| species = pycnocephalus
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''''Carduus pycnocephalus''''', with [[common name]]s including '''Italian thistle''', '''Italian plumeless thistle''', and '''Plymouth thistle''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |accessdate=2014-10-17 }}</ref> is a species of [[thistle]]. It is [[native plant|native]] to: the [[Mediterranean region]] in southern Europe, [[North Africa]], and [[Western Asia]]; [[East Europe]] and the [[Caucasus]]; and the [[Indian Subcontinent]].<ref name="grin">{{GRIN | accessdate=2013-04-08}}</ref>

The plant has become an [[introduced species]] in other regions, and on other continents, often becoming a noxious weed or [[invasive species]].

==Description==
[[File:Carduuspycnocephalus.jpg|thumb|right|''Carduus pycnocephalus'' plant (California).]]
A winter annual, ''Carduus pycnocephalus'' stems range from {{convert|8|in|cm}} to {{convert|6.6|ft|m}}, and are glabrous to slightly wooly. The multiple stems are winged with spines.<ref name="nps">[http://www.nps.gov/seki/naturescience/badcapy.htm U.S. National Park Service: Invasive Non-Native Plants in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — Italian Thistle]</ref>

The plant grows in a [[rosette (botany)|rosettes]] of {{convert|10|-|14|in|cm}} in diameter, with four to ten lobed [[Leaf shape|basal leaves]] that are {{convert|4|-|6|in|cm}} long. Cauline leaves are [[tomentose]] on the underside and contain spines on the lobe tips.<ref name="nps"/>

Flower heads are 2-5 per cluster, densely matted with cobwebby hairs at the base of the phyllaries and spiny towards the tips. Corollas are pink to purple, approx. .4-.6 in (1-1.4 cm) long, and the fruits are brown to gold, with a bristly, minutely barbed pappus.<ref name="nps"/><ref>[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,867,870 Jepson; Hickman 1993]</ref><ref name="boss">Bossard, CC., J.M. Randall, and M. Hoshovsky. (eds.); [http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/online.php Invasive Plants of California’s Wildlands]; University of California Press, Berkeley, CA; 2000.</ref>

==Noxious weed==
[[Image:Carduuspycnocephalusrosettes.JPG|thumb|right|Dense crowding by Italian thistle [[rosette (botany)|rosettes]].]]
''Carduus pycnocephalus'' has become a [[noxious weed]] in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Macaronesia]], [[South Africa]], the [[Arabian Peninsula]], [[South America]], [[Hawaii]], and [[North America]], especially in much of [[California]].<ref name="grin"/><ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAPY2 USDA]</ref> It is a C-listed weed by the California Department of Agriculture and a Moderate Invasive Plant rating by the California Invasive Plant Council.<ref name="calipc">[http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Carduus_pycnocephalus.php Cal-IPC—California Invasive Plant Council species treatment: ''Carduus pycnocephalus''] . accessed 4.8.2013</ref> It favors grasslands, woodlands, and [[chaparral]] vegetation types, but is especially prevalent in [[California oak woodland|oak woodland]]s in and around the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]]. It is found in disturbed areas, often with basaltic soils, fertile soils, or soils with a relatively high pH (> 6.5).<ref name="boss"/><ref name="calipc"/>

===Impacts===
Italian thistle can grow densely, crowding out other vegetation with dense rosette 'colonies' in the winter, thereby preventing establishment of [[native plants]]. Its spiny leaves, stems, and phyllaries prevent animals from grazing on it and nearby forage.<ref name="mattole">[https://archive.today/20130704073210/http://classic.mattole.org/invasive_plants2/italianthistle.htm Mattole Restoration Council: Italian Thistle (''Carduus pycnocephalus'')] . accessed 4.8.2013</ref><ref>Parsons 1973</ref> Its tendency to grow under the canopy of oaks increases the risk of [[wildfire]] damage to the trees, as fire can more easily spread to the canopy.

===Control===
;Mechanical
Mechanical methods can be effective but must be done before the plant sets seed. Additionally, the root must be severed at least {{convert|4|in|cm}} below the ground to prevent the plant from regenerating.<ref name="mattole"/> Mowing and slashing are not reliable as the plant is able to regrow and produce seed even at a height of {{convert|3|in|cm}}.<ref name="boss"/><ref>Tasmania Dept. of Agriculture 1977</ref>

;Biological
Biological control agents have limited success with ''Carduus pycnocephalus''. Insects that tested host-specific by the California Dept. of Agriculture and caused significant damage to the reproductive structures of the Italian thistle have not been utilized, due to concerns about possible predation of California's native thistle species.<ref>Sheppard et al. 1991</ref> ''Puccinia cardui-pycnocephali'' is a species of [[Rust (fungus)|rust]] (fungus) apparently exclusive to ''Carduus pycnocephalus''.<ref name="mattole"/> Other rust species have been found on Italian thistle as well.<ref name="mattole"/><ref>Olivieri 1984</ref><ref>Bruckart 1991</ref>

Grazing by [[sheep]] or [[goats]] (not cattle) in Australia has showed promise as well.<ref>Bendall 1973</ref>

;Chemical
Chemical control can be achieved with a variety of products including: [[Clopyralid]], [[glyphosate]], [[Diquat]], [[Picloram]], and [[2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid|2, 4-D]] ester. However, caution must be exercised when using these products, and their use is not always appropriate, especially near water surfaces and other sensitive natural [[habitat]]s.<ref name="boss"/><ref name="mattole"/> Check with local, regional, and national regulations directing use.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Carduus pycnocephalus}}
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CAPY2 USDA Plants Profile: ''Carduus pycnocephalus'' (Italian plumeless thistle)]
*[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,867,870 Jepson Manual Treatment — ''Carduus pycnocephalus'']
*[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Carduus+pycnocephalus ''Carduus pycnocephalus'' — CalPhoto gallery]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2700500}}

[[Category:Carduus|pycnocephalus]]
[[Category:Flora of North Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Western Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Flora of Egypt]]
[[Category:Flora of Greece]]
[[Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent]]
[[Category:Flora of Iran]]
[[Category:Flora of Iraq]]
[[Category:Flora of Israel]]
[[Category:Flora of Italy]]
[[Category:Flora of Jordan]]
[[Category:Flora of Libya]]
[[Category:Flora of Morocco]]
[[Category:Flora of Palestine (region)]]
[[Category:Flora of Spain]]
[[Category:Flora of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Flora of Ukraine]]

Carduus pycnocephalus - Revision history

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