Annual or biennial, mostly 60–150 cm high; stems usually much-branched, with discontinuous spiny wings, cobwebbed. Leaves toothed to pinnatisect, margins spiny, upper surface dark green and covered with small prickles, lower surface white-tomentose or cobwebbed; basal leaves obovate to lanceolate, to 35 cm long and 10 cm wide, obscurely petiolate; cauline leaves similar but smaller, base decurrent. Capitula pedunculate, solitary or 2 or 3 together, campanulate, 2–5 cm diam.; involucre c. 25 mm long; intermediate bracts linear-lanceolate, erect to recurved, with a straight terminal spine 2–5 mm long; inner bracts longer and narrower, acute. Florets bisexual; corolla 25–35 mm long, purple. Cypselas 3–6 mm long, grey or light brown with darker streaks, smooth; pappus 2–2.5 cm long. Flowers mostly summer and autumn.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas., New Zealand. Native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. Widespread and common across much of the State, usually along roadsides, in pasture and wasteland, mostly on heavier, more fertile soils. Declared a noxious weed in Victoria. .
