biennial taprooted thistle growing to 2.5 metres tall; stems are
spiny and winged except below the flower head; leaves are deeply
lobed and spiny margined; large purple flowers (2.5 to 5 cm
across) droop down or "nod" at maturity; flowerhead
bracts end in a strong, sharp spiny tip
sometimes confused with plumeless thistle (Carduus
acanthoides) which has smaller flowers (less than 2.5 cm
broad) with flower stalks spiny-margined right to the base of the
flowerhead
Photo courtesy BC Ministry of Forests
Large flowers with spine-tipped bracts "nod" at
maturity