Scotch Thistle

Erect biennial thistle to 2 m high. Stems winged, woolly or cobwebby. Leaves woolly hairy to scattered hairy; basal leaves toothed, to 40 cm long and to 25 cm wide, withering in mature plants; stem leaves toothed, smaller with base of leaf extending down stems as wings. Seeds 4-ribbed, ovoid, to 0.5 cm long, grey with darker mottling; topped by minutely barbed bristles to 0.9 cm long.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by erect branched stems; leaves spiny; flower head bracts ending in an orange spine, largest about 2 mm wide where bent away from heads; all florets tubular, mauve to purple (rarely white).