Cirsium hydrophilum var. hydrophilum

Suisun thistle

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Suisun thistle is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in the Deltaic Great Valley region of Suisun Marsh, Solano County, in tidal marsh habitat at sea level. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces purple flowers in thistle heads approximately 2.5 to 3 centimeters long. Growing with stems generally branched in the upper half, it reaches a moderate height with distinctive thistle characteristics. Its leaves are typical of thistles, with spiny edges and a robust green coloration characteristic of marsh environments. The fruit is small, approximately 5 millimeters long and oblong, tapering near the base.

Habitat: Tidal marsh

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: +- 0 m.

Bioregions: Deltaic GV (Suisun Marsh, Solano Co.).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.