Asteraceae

Cirsium vulgare

Common Names: Boar thistle

Plant Form: Biennial erect herb. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Interrupted, spiny wings along stems. Leaves: Toothed to lobed, with spiny margins, to 30 cm long, green above and white below. Stem leaves are 4-25 cm long and stalkless, forming a wing. Flowers: Purple, 12-40 mm diameter, with spreading to recurved spines. Fruit and Seeds: 3-6 mm long, light brown, smooth, with parachuting hairs 2-3 cm long. Habitat: Agricultural areas, wasteland, roadsides. Distinguishing Features: Flowerheads wide, solitary or in small clusters whereas Perennial thistle (Cirsium arvense) flowerheads are narrow and grouped in larger clusters. Impacts: Blocks grazing animals reducing land capacity, harbours pests, contaminates hay.

Flowers are large

Juveniles are woolly in winter

Juveniles green and flat if not cold

Can grow large

Fluffy seed on standing dead plants