Hill's Thistle (Cirsium pumilum var. hillii)

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ON, WI
Nature Serve ID: 140937
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/01/1990

Description:

Where is Hill's Thistle (Cirsium pumilum var. hillii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Prairie and other open areas with dry sandy soil

Distribution:

States & Provinces:

Hill's Thistle can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario, Wisconsin

Which CPC Partners conserve Hill's Thistle (Cirsium pumilum var. hillii)?

Chicago Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Approximately 400 occurrences are scattered through a range centered around the Great Lakes, from southern Ontario through Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and northern Indiana; additional populations are likely to be found through ongoing inventory. Although around 100 known occurrences are thought to have excellent or good viability, many nevertheless contain small numbers of reproductive plants; the total reproductive population may not be more than 3500-4000 individuals. Thought to have declined significantly from likely historic distribution and to still be declining currently. The primary threat is habitat loss/degradation, due to conversion for agriculture and development and to fire suppression which contributes to canopy closure and litter build-up, reducing habitat suitability. Active management (e.g. prescribed fire) may be necessary to ensure long-term persistence.

01/01/2010

The DNR's domographic plot contained 2 flowering plants, 25 sterile plants and many uncounted seedlings the largest concentration is found in the central northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan