Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans): purple Minnesota wildflowers

Nodding Thistle

Plant Info
Also known as:	Nodding Plumeless Thistle, Musk Thistle
Scientific name:	Carduus nutans
Family:	Aster (Asteraceae)
Life cycle:	bienniel
Origin:	Europe
Habitat:	sun; fields, along roads
Bloom season:	late spring, summer
Plant height:	2 to 7 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: Flower heads are 2 to 3 inches across, purple to pinkish. The flower heads often nod down, hence the common name. The bracts are rather large and generally triangular, in many layers spreading out away from the flower head, and are green or tinged purple. One plant may have several flowers, each sitting at the end of a long smooth stem.
Leaves and stem:: Leaves are up to 15 inches long at the base of the plant, gradually becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. There are numerous spines along the wavy edges and no leaf stem. Leaves are deeply lobed; the lobes on lower leaves are further divided into several smaller lobes. The base of upper leaves may extend down the spiny main stem, forming “wings”.
Notes:: Nodding Thistle is on the prohibited noxious weed list for Minnesota. Goldfinches are quite fond of them for both the seed and the silks from the seed heads, which they use to line their nests.

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, June 2006 and June 2007

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?