This rather slender thistle, which can grow to more than 1m high, is a very spiny plant. Annual or biennial, it has spiny wings running up the stems to its clusters of small, pinkish-red congested, unstalked flower-heads (8mm across) which are cottony, with bracts which have a curved spine at their tops.They bloom from June to August and have lobed leaves which are very spiny and are cottony below. This plant is found on open ground and grassy places, more commonly in coastal areas. It is a native plant and belongs to the family Asteraceae.
My first record of this plant was in 2008 near Tacumshane, Co Wexford when I also photographed it.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
