The Pitchers Thistle

bub — Thu, 04 May 2006 11:05:20 -0400

With summer approaching and the warmer weather ahead, and the need to head to the beach, its also time to be aware, once more, of endangered plants that may be in the dunes, and along the shore.
Last time we mentioned the endangered beach grasses , which Sabrinus has knowledge of ( ahem..still waiting for that pic of the hairy puccoon! )
This time , its about what almost all of us would look at as a thorny thistle/weed, but is anything but.
Once very predominant along the dunes along the Lake Huron coast, the Pitchers Thistle , a perennial herb , has become very rare and in 1999 pronounced as an endangered species.
This thistle is different than others, it is less prickly and has fine downy hairs with distinct blue green leaves. The main threat to this plant is human, by being plucked out, sprayed, trampled on and driven over.
So take a good look and walk around the plant, and stay on proper paths and try not to disturb this endangered deep rooted dune plant, if you can indeed find one.

South Bruce Peninsular - The Pitchers Thistle - Comments

The Pitchers Thistle