Asteraceae

Onopordum acaulon

Common Names: Stemless thistle

Plant Form: Biennial rosette herb. Size: Up to 1 m across. Stem: Stemless Leaves: Spiny, in rosette, up to 50 cm long, deeply dissected, white-hairy. Flowers: White flowerheads solitary or in dense cluster, 4-6 cm across, with surrounding bracts ending in straight spine. Fruit and Seeds: 4-5 mm long, with rough parachuting hairs up to 3 cm long. Habitat: Pastures, roadsides, disturbed areas, bare ground. Distinguishing Features: Distinguished from other thistles by not having a stem.