Bull Thistle, Common Thistle, Spear Thistle,Cirsium vulgare,Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)

Found in disturbed areas, meadows, roadsides
Seen blooming in July at Agua Caliente Spring, Abiquiu
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The Bull Thistle grows to six feet tall with many spreading branches. It has masses of long, dark green, intensely spiny leaves and many large, prickly flower heads at the end of the branches that are up to 2 inches high. Below the flowers are many long, stiff, yellow or green spines. It is an invasive weed and considered noxious in New Mexico. Nevertheless the purple flower heads are striking and this magnificent Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly was enjoying the nectar. Bull thistle root can be eaten and is best used when mixed with other vegetables. Young flower stems can be cooked and young leaves can be eaten in a salad or tossed into a sauté. The taste is somewhat bland but the prickles need to be removed from the leaves before the leaves can be eaten! The flower buds can be cooked and used like globe artichokes, but they are smaller. Bull thistle seeds can be roasted. Source.

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