Nodding thistle

Biennial herb to 70 cm high; stem with wings cut into spinose lobes.

Basal leaves forming a rosette, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5–25 cm long, 2–10 cm wide, deeply pinnatisect, concolorous, pubescent; cauline leaves similar, shorter, 5–10 cm long, stem-clasping.

Heads several; heads hemispherical; involucral bracts lanceolate, outer spine-tipped, slightly spreading, middle spine-tipped, erect, purplish, inner shorter, not spiny. Florets purple.

Achenes 4–5 mm long; pappus bristles unequal, 15–20 mm long.