Nodding/Musk Thistle / Carduus nutans

The large Nodding or Musk Thistle is my favourite species of Thistle. Unfortunately, this quite spectacular and beautiful species is on the list of Restricted, Noxious, and Nuisance Weeds In Alberta. It is a biennial that spreads rapidly by seed forming extremely dense stands, though when I have seen this species growing in several places within the city, there are usually only a few of them. Yesterday, though, I saw how, if left, these Thistles can spread.

I finally got out on a botany walk yesterday afternoon, 25 July 2017. The smoke from the British Columbia and Alberta wildfires has cleared, it was a lovely sunny day, and at last the destination was a place to which I could drive. Also, I knew that this would not be a very long walk and it was all on the level. I was hoping that there would at least be a few of these thistles growing. Most of the flowers had died, but I still love those spine-tipped, inner and outer bracts. The flower itself is a beautiful pink/purple. I have added a previously posted photo showing a flower in its prime, in a comment box below.

www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2011/08/carduus-nutans.php

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carduus_nutans

This photo was taken at the Erlton/Roxboro Natural Area, not far from downtown Calgary. It is the richest botanical area, for its size, within the city. Over 385 species have been recorded in an area of about three hectares. (All of Fish Creek Provincial Park has only about 460 species). Eighty species, however, are aliens, now occupying 90+% of the area. It is such a shame to see how the area is being devastated by plants that include Baby's Breath, Creeping Thistle, Yellow Clematis and other invasive species.