MUSK THISTLE, Carduus
nutans L. 1, upper part of stem; 2, portion of stem
showing leaf attachment; 3, seed. Biennial, large, coarse
plant. Stem erect, spiny, with spiny wings, 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to
1.8 m) tall, lower portion branched. Stems and branches densely
covered with short hairs. Leaves alternate, coarsely toothed, extending
down the stem, very spiny. Flower heads as much as 2 inches
(5 cm) across, on the ends of long, nearly naked stems, frequently drooping
or nodding; flowers purple or lavender; spiny-tipped bracts surrounding
the head. Seeds about 3/16 inch (4.5 mm) long, glossy yellowish-brown;
pappus hairlike. Found in pastures, meadows, and waste areas. Considerable
variation may be found because this species is a polymorphic complex, with
numerous semidistinct phases.