Cirsium vulgare is a species of thistle in the plant family
Asteraceae. Native to Europe and Western Asia, it has become
naturalised in North America, Africa and Australia, and is an
invasive weed in some areas. It is a
ruderal species, able to colonise bare ground, but also persists well on pasture as its thorny leaves and stems make it unpalatable to most grazing animals. The flowers are rich in
nectar, attracting bees and butterflies, and the seeds are a favourite with
goldfinches,
linnets and
greenfinches. The downy
pappus, which assists in
wind dispersal of the seeds, is used by birds as nest-lining material.
Photograph credit: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma