(Cirsium vulgare)
Bull thistle is a biennial forb that was introduced to North America as a seed contaminant and is now widespread. Gumdrop-shaped flowers are pinkish to dark purple in color and 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter. The flower bracts are somewhat tapered and covered with spines. Seeds are capped with a circle of plume-like white hairs. Leaves are alternate. In Colorado, Bull thistles are the only species that are prickly hairy on the top and are cottony-hairy on the undersides of the leaves. In mature plants the leaves extend down, clasping the stem, and are divided into segments. The plant has a short, fleshy taproot with several primary roots extending from the root crown. Seed leaves are round to spatulate, and smooth. Mature plants can produce up to 4,000 seeds per plant.
