The Flickr Cobwebthistle Image Generatr

Cobweb Thistle, Cirsium occidentale

Cobweb Thistle, Cirsium occidentale

Here are new plants of native California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. There is a patch of snow (or graupel) left over from our storm yesterday, see my photo. These will become the violet form of these plants, see this photo for the lavender flowers taken last June. These plants seem to be true biennials which form leaves in their first year, then flower in their second year. (San Marcos Pass, 27 January 2025)

This is a new plant of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods a few days ago. This will become the violet form of these plants, see this photo for the lavender flowers taken last June. These plants seem to be true biennials which form leaves in their first year, then flower in their second year. (San Marcos Pass, 20 December 2024)

This is another photo of "just a fly" (Diptera) on a fallen leaves of Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia, Fagaceae) in the woods today. The plant is a new seedling of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae). (San Marcos Pass, 17 December 2024)

This is an exploding seed head of native California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods a few days ago. You can see new seeds making their way into the world. (San Marcos Pass, 15 August 2024)

Photographed at Abbotts Lagoon at Pt. Reyes National Seashore on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Here is a Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly working a new flower of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. These butterflies look less pale as we move into summer -- they get a cream color, and sometimes I confuse them with Western Tiger Swallowtails. (San Marcos Pass, 21 June 2024)

Here is a wild bee (Anthophila, Hymenoptera) collecting pollen from a new flower of native California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae). This bee is in the family Megachilidae whose members collect pollen on their abdomens rather than their hind legs like most other bees, maybe it's genus Osmia with a hint of a metallic blue color. HBBBT! (San Marcos Pass, 20 June 2024)

This is a new flower of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum) in the Asteraceae plant family in the woods today. The cobwebby hairs are part of the plant, and give the plant its other common name of Cobweb Thistle -- but this one also has real spider webs on it. Happy Web Webnesday! (San Marcos Pass, 19 June 2024)

This is another Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens, Coccinellidae) on an old seed head of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. (San Marcos Pass, 26 December 2023)

A close up of a cobweb thistle image printed using an old photographic process called a Cyanotype mixed with a Turmeric Anthotype process.

A close up of a cobweb thistle image printed using an old photographic process called a Cyanotype mixed with a Turmeric Anthotype process.

This is a Sheet Web Weaver (Linyphiidae) spider on an old seed head of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. I believe this is a male Hammock Spider (Pityohyphantes). (San Marcos Pass, 17 December 2023)

This is a twofer of Swallowtail butterflies working a new flower of the violet form of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. I love the native thistles -- and the butterflies do too! I believe they are both Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterflies. These butterflies look less pale as we move into summer -- they get a cream color, and sometimes I confuse them with Western Tiger Swallowtails (P. rutulus), compare this one. (San Marcos Pass, 7 August 2023)

This is a goregous Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) butterfly working a new flower of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. Or is it a cream-colored Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly? These butterflies look less pale as we move into summer -- they get a cream color, and sometimes I confuse them with Western Tiger Swallowtails. HBBBT! (San Marcos Pass, 25 July 2023)

This is a goregous Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) butterfly working a new flower of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. Or is it a cream-colored Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly? These butterflies look less pale as we move into summer -- they get a cream color, and sometimes I confuse them with Western Tiger Swallowtails. Maybe this photo shows both swallowtails at the same time. (San Marcos Pass, 25 July 2023)

This is a goregous Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) butterfly working a new flower of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. Or is it a cream-colored Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly? These butterflies look less pale as we move into summer -- they get a cream color, and sometimes I confuse them with Western Tiger Swallowtails. Maybe this photo shows both swallowtails at the same time. (San Marcos Pass, 25 July 2023)

This is a gorgeous Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) butterfly working a new flower of California Thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. californicum, Asteraceae) in the woods today. Or is it a cream-colored Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) butterfly? These butterflies look less pale as we move into summer -- they get a cream color, and sometimes I confuse them with Western Tiger Swallowtails. Maybe this photo shows both swallowtails at the same time. (San Marcos Pass, 25 July 2023)