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The Spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a biennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It grows in grasslands, wastelands, and along hedgerows, reaching a height of about 1.5 m. The stems are covered with fine white hairs and have spines. The leaves are pinnately lobed and bear long, weak spines. The leaves are hairless, except for the veins on the underside. From June to September, reddish-purple capitula 20-25 mm in diameter bloom at the tips of the stems. The involucral bracts are erect or spreading laterally, slender, and pointed at the tips.
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