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Bull thistle
Life cycle: Local noxious. Biennial.
Leaves: Large, deeply lobed, thick, dark green, spine-tipped, covered with hair.
Stems: 3 to 6 feet tall. Branched.
Flowers: 1 to 2 inches. Shaving brush shape. Rose to deep purple, spiny base.
Roots: Heavy, branched tap root. Forms rosette first season.
Weed Species: local noxious weed
Comments: Less aggressive than some biennials. Capable of producing dense stands.