K & P Flora - CANADA THISTLE Traditional Cache
K & P Flora - CANADA THISTLE
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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We so enjoyed putting out the K & P Ticket and Fauna series, that we thought we would continue along the trail. This time, the theme is the FLORA. If you see any of the trees or flowers mentioned, please feel free to take pictures and post them at the appropriate cache – but please, NO PHOTOS OF EACH CACHE (sure, the log if you have to).
BIKING is possible for the whole trail. This trail is NOT recommended for thin tires! Puddles may need to be crossed after wet weather.
If you don’t see any flora, then you are caching way too fast and not seeing the trees for the forest! Enjoy the ride and enjoy the diverse plant life.
CANADA THISTLE - Cirsium arvense
Canada thistle is a non-native deep-rooted perennial that spreads by seeds and aggressive, creeping, horizontal roots (rhizomes). Canada thistle can grow 2 to 4 feet in height. The leaves are oblong, spiny, bright green in color, and are only slightly hairy on the under surface. Flowers occur in small clusters that form on the ends of branches. They are about 1 cm in diameter, tubular shaped, and vary from white to purple in color with a strong vanilla scent (female flowers).
Canada thistle emerges from its root system from late April through May. It begins to flower in late spring to early summer with increase in day length. Canada thistle only produces about 1,000 to 1,500 seeds per plant. Typically, it reproduces vegetatively through a creeping root system, and can quickly form dense stands. Every piece of root, from 1/2 to 1 inch in length, is capable of forming new plants.
Canada thistle is one of the most feared noxious weeds, as it can infest many land types, from roadsides, ditch banks, riparian zones, pastures, irrigated cropland, to the most productive dryland cropland. Forage production is severely reduced because cattle will not graze near infestations.
PARKING: One or two cars can park where the trail intersects roads, but pay attention to NO parking signs so as to not block entrances. A nice place to leave your car in Calabogie is at the end of the trail (N45 17.916 W76 43.033) which is at the local beach and Tourist Information spot. You may want a quick swim?
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)