Bull Thistle

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Young rosettes.  Young leaves are not cut, hairy and are lined with spines.

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Rosettes.  Key characteristics: hairs on the upper surfaces of leaves.   Leaves are deeply cut.

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Stem.  Key characteristics: presence of hairs and spiny wings.

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Flower.  Key characteristics: bracts have a cobweb-like hairiness in the lower portion and end in long spines.

  

Seed.  Seed are yellow-brown, slightly glossy and tipped with a knob.  The shape is elongated with a length of 3.0 to 4.0 mm.

Life cycle: biennial.