Cirsium cymosum var. canovirens   gray-green thistle
           (Alt: Cirsium canovirens )
  
Asteraceae (Alt: Compositae )
native                      herbaceous           
Distribution: Oregon Trail, Foothills, West Valley, South Boise


USDA Plants Link: Cirsium cymosum var. canovirens   (CICY)


Basal rosettes of young plants have less deeply toothed leaves than older ones.  Plants can spend several years building up reserves before blooming and then dying (the fate of monocarpic perennials).