About Onopordum illyricum L.
Onopordum illyricum, whose scientific name is Onopordum illyricum L., is a thistle species commonly known as Illyrian thistle or Illyrian cottonthistle. It is native to southwestern Europe, but has been introduced to Australia and California, where it has established as a noxious weed. This species is a biennial herb that grows an erect, branching, winged, spiny stem that can reach a maximum height over two meters. Its spiny leaves can grow up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) long, and are split into deep toothed lobes. The inflorescence holds several large flower heads, each up to 7 centimeters (3 inches) wide. These flower heads are bordered by spiny, woolly to cobwebby phyllaries, and carry many narrow glandular purple flowers each around 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long. The fruit is a cylindrical achene 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.20 inches) long, topped with a white pappus that is 1 centimeter (0.39 inches) in length.
