Carduus nutans   Musk or Nodding Thistle

Carduus nutans whole Pyrenees Carduus nutans close Pyrenees

The odd looking flowerhead on this C. nutans is just beginning to "nod" as it comes into flower but the spineless flower stalk just below the head and the purple tipped spines around the flower head are typical of this species.

Roadside verge, hills opposite Gèdre, French Pyrenees, 13th June 2009

Added on November 24th 2009, updated 10th March 2010, updated 11th February 2014

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