Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 827 (1753) subsp. acanthium.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Scotch thistle, cotton thistle, heraldic thistle.

Description:
Biennial herb to 1 m high; stems erect, branched, woolly or densely cobwebby, with continuous spiny wings, c. 1 cm wide; leaves mostly cauline, lanceolate, dentate, with numerous robust spines to 1 cm long, decurrent at the base, 10-35 cm long, 3-10 cm wide, densely woolly below, less so above.

Capitula solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3 on peduncles to 3 cm long, erect, 3.5-5 cm diam.; involucral bracts subulate, to 2.5 cm long, woolly at the base, tapered into a yellowish spine, outer bracts spreading or recurred, inner ones erect, glabrous on the inner surface; corollas 22-25 mm long, purple.

Achenes obovoid, 4-ribbed, transversely wrinkled, 4-5 mm long; pappus bristles 7-9 mm long, buff, barbellate.

Published illustration: Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, p. 75.

Distribution:  An uncommon weed of roadsides, pastures and waste ground. S.Aust.: EP, NL, SL.   N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   Native to Europe. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Aug. — Dec.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Uses: The Scotch thistle of heraldry is apparently patterned on this species.

Author: Not yet available