Canada Thistle

(Cirsium arvense)

Characteristics

Seedling	Leaves	Flowers	Seedhead

Growing habits: Erect perennial

Root anatomy: Fibrous roots from taproot

Leaf anatomy: Alternate, simple, sessile, oblong to lanceolate, somewhat lobed, margins crinkled, spines along leaf margins

Reproduction: Dioecious plants; heads numerous, compact in terminal clusters with lavender/rose-purple/white disk florets, bracts numerous & spineless

^{References: Weeds of the South by Charles T. Bryson and Michael S. DeFelice}