Also called bull thistle, common thistle, Scots thistle, Scottish thistle and Scotch thistle.  It is the national flower of Scotland.

Part of plume thistle  genus Cirsium and aster / daisy / sunflower  family Asteraceae.

Native to 🇪🇺 Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa.  Invasive > learn+quiz Invasive > Global Invasive > in USA+Canada Invasive > report it! Invasive > in USA Invasive > in USFS (.pdf) Invasive > in Michigan seeds prohibited in Michigan (.pdf page 2)

Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database)

Learn more about spear thistle Cirsium vulgare

Biological Control in Eastern USA (.pdf page 255)

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