(Carduus acanthoides)
Plumeless thistle is a winter annual or biennial that is native to Europe and Asia. Plumeless Thistle rosettes have wavy leaves with yellow spines along the white-colored leaf margins. The stems are covered with leaf-like, winged spines that extend up to the flowering heads. The flower heads, in clusters of 2 to 5, are alone at the end of the branches. They are purple to dark red in color and are 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter. Leaves are alternate, stalk-less, hairy underneath, and blend into the stem. Mature plants can grow taller than 5 feet and can produce upwards of 9,000 seeds.
