Noxious Weeds of Nebraska

Plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides L.) is one of seven noxious weeds in Nebraska. Plumeless thistle competes with and suppresses growth of desirable species. Heavy infestations prevent livestock from grazing the area and lighter infestations prevent livestock from eating plants growing near the thistle. Estimates place the annual loss in Nebraska agricultural production due to plumeless thistle at $162,000. Plumeless thistle, a member of the sunflower familyk,l is primarily found in pastures, rangeland, and non-cropped areas in northeastern Nebraska. The plant can be a biennial, winter annual, or occasionally a summer annual. Typically plumeless thistle acts as a giennial with seed germination in April. Plants grow vegetatively the first year, overwintering in the rosette stage. In the second season, plumeless thistle produces a flowering stalk and flowers from June to August.
Plumeless thistle only reproduces from seed. Although most seeds germinate int he following year, seed viability can remain high for more than 10 years in the soil. Plumeless thistle is primarily a cross-pollinated species with limited self-pollination occurring. There are reports of hybridization between plumeless thistle and musk thistle.

Control methods include culturall, mechanical, biological and chemical.