Description: A prickly plant with a spinywinged stem and large purple flower heads. It's made up of disk flowers and has spiny, yellow tipped bracts.

Flower size: heads 1 1/2 - 2" wide

Leaf size: 3 - 6" (spiny)

Height: 2' - 6'

Flowering time: June - September

Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, and waste places

Location: Throughout the USA

Comments: Very spiny, should be handled only with gloves. A biennial. It produces a rosette of leaves the 1st year and flowering stalk the 2nd year. The bristles on the flowers serve as a parachute to carry the light seeds.