Cirsium

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cirsium

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Cirsium
2. What is the diet?Autotrophic; plants utilizing photosynthesis for energy production
3. What are Cirsium plants and why are they called thistles?Cirsium plants are spiky flowering plants in the Asteraceae family, often called thistles because of their sharp leaves and stems. They have many species, each with a unique look, but all share the same prickly protection.
4. Why do Cirsium plants have sharp spines?The spines help keep animals from eating the plants. They act like a natural shield so the plants can grow in many places.

Asteraceae: The largest family of flowering plants, commonly known as the daisy or sunflower family.
Anemochory: The dispersal of seeds or spores by wind, a common strategy for many Cirsium species.
Protandrous: A condition in flowering plants where the male reproductive organs (anthers) mature and release pollen before the female reproductive organs (stigma) are receptive.