Musk Thistle
Musk Thistle is a problem plant that takes two years to grow. When it matures (the second year) it has about 10 bright pink, shaving-brush shaped flowers that often nod in the wind. When the blossom goes to seed it produces more than 1000 seeds. Each seed has its own little parachute. The wind carries each seed to a new place to grow a new plant.
Do the math. If one (1) plant grows and goes to seed and half of the seeds grow, how many weeds will you have to dig up the first and second year?_____
In the third season they go to seed. How many are there to dig up, if no one dug up the musk thistles the first and second year? ____
These bullies push out good, useful plants. Hay fields and gardens can be spoiled in just a short time.
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Each seed has its own little parachute or pappus to help move it by wind.
One half is at least 500 seeds, that is, you would have 500 weeds to dig up the first and second year!
Third season: 500 plants times 10 heads each times 500 seeds per head = 2,500,000 new weeds to choke out all the useful plants!
Of course, this is IF only half the seeds germinate. If there are wet years, there could be many more!
Musk Thistle Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Class B Weed
( the parachute-like carrier system of the seed)
