Family, Composite. Color, purple or crimson. Leaves, deeply cut, prickly, woolly, alternate, sessile and running down on the stem. Flowers, in a round, close head, large, surrounded by a prickly involucre. July to November.

This is the common thistle, one of Europe's undesirable exportations to our shores, the despair of every farmer once it has made its appearance in his pastures.