Bull Thistle

(Cirsium vulgare)

Bull thistle

Characteristics
Seedling Leaves Flowers Fruit
Bull thistle seedling Bull thistle leaf Bull thistle flower Bull thistle fruit

Growing habit: Erect biennial herb

Root anatomy: Secondary roots from robust taproot

Leaf anatomy: First leaves rosette, alternately arranged leaves further up; elliptic to oblanceolate, dissected, pinnatifid

Reproduction: Rose to purple flowers, disk florets surrounded by spiny tipped practs; achene fruits

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