Asteraceae

Carthamus lanatus

Common Names: Saffron thistle

Plant Form: Erect annual herb Size: Up to 1 m tall. Stem: Yellowish white or pale green, rigid and ribbed. Leaves: Deeply lobed (dissected), spiny, 3-6 cm long. Flowers: Yellow, 1-2 cm diameter, with outer leaf-like bracts, often bent downwards, cobwebby, spiny. Fruit and Seeds: 5-6 mm long, smooth, naked, light brown, with parachuting hairs (pappus) of many linear scales 7-10 mm long. Habitat: Paddocks, disturbed areas, grasslands, generally open. Distinguishing Features: Combination of yellow flowers and dissected leaves ending in spines distinguish from other species in the genus Carthamus. Impacts: Forms dense patches restricting stock or human movement, spines can contaminate wool and cause more wear on farm machinery. Can replace native vegetation in open woodlands and grasslands.

Thin yellow flowers

Leaves thin and spiny

Early growth is flat

Later growth is upright