Common Name: canada thistle, creeping thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium arvense , (L.) Scop., syn. Carduus arvensis
Family Name: Asteraceae (Compositae) - Aster or Sunflower Family

Identification Notes:

life cycle - perennial, reproducing by seed and creeping roots

stems - upright, tall, branched above, ridged

leaves - alternate, oblong to lance-shaped, sessile, crinkly margins, lobes irregular and spiny leaves 1, leaves 2

flowers - heads of rose-purple (sometimes white) disk (tubulate) florets; spineless bracts; terminal and axillary above; dioecious flower heads 1, flower heads 2, mature flower heads

Images:

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