[Thistles: The Genus Cirsium East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Elk Thistle, Meadow Thistle

Cirsium scariosum var. scariosum

Synonyms: Cirsium americanum, Cirsium foliosum, Cirsium scariosum, Cirsium tioganum, Cirsium tioganum var. tioganum

Elk Thistle, Meadow Thistle: Var. scariosum (Synonyms: Cirsium americanum, Cirsium foliosum, Cirsium scariosum, Cirsium tioganum, Cirsium tioganum var. tioganum) - Elk Thistle, Meadow Thistle: Var. scariosum (Synonyms: Cirsium americanum, Cirsium foliosum, Cirsium scariosum, Cirsium tioganum, Cirsium tioganum var. tioganum)

What might be elk thistle (var. scariosum) as seen at left under aspens along Bond Creek upstream of Hot Springs Campground, Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge.........June 11, 2016. Note the erect, unbranched, leafy stem, in this case with a single flower head. There is a chance this could be a caulescent form of var. americanum. The photo at right shows elk thistle along the access road into Mud Creek Campground, Fremont-Winema National Forest........July 18, 2022.
Paul Slichter