This huge thistle like annual plant is reputed to grow to 1 m in height but this one exceeded that by about 50 cm at least. It is a plant found in north Africa, Western Asia and much of Europe in lowland roadside locations exactly like this one. The spiny bracts have a purple tinge and the whitish veins in the leaves are typical.

Notobasis syriaca Syrian Thistle Side of minor road, Near Cortijo Valverde, Andalucia, Spain 30th March 2008 Previous   Next	Notobasis syriaca Syrian Thistle Side of minor road, Near Cortijo Valverde, Andalucia, Spain 30th March 2008 Previous   Next
Notobasis syriaca Syrian Thistle	Notobasis syriaca Syrian Thistle side view

Side of minor road, Near Cortijo Valverde, Andalucia, Spain 30th March 2008

Added on 17th January 2011, updated 15th July 2014