Family: Asteraceae Scientific name: Cirsium vulgare Description: Plant Form Biennial erect herb. Size Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem Interrupted, spiny wings along stems. Leaves Toothed to lobed, with spiny margins, to 30 cm long, green above and white below. Stem leaves are 4-25 cm long and stalkless, forming a wing. Flowers Purple, 12-40 mm diameter, with spreading to recurved spines. Fruit and Seeds 3-6 mm long, light brown, smooth, with parachuting hairs 2-3 cm long. Habitat Agricultural areas, wasteland, roadsides. Distinguishing Features Flowerheads wide, solitary or in small clusters versus narrowly cylindric in larger clusters in Perennial thistle (Cirsium arvense). Impacts Blocks grazing animals reducing land capacity, harbours pests, contaminates hay.