A lone way thistle stood guard at the edge of the path, its purple head nodding in the breeze.

You won't find a friendlier welcome this side of the black stump.

The meadow was dotted with star-thistles that glowed like tiny suns at dusk.

The rancher spent the afternoon pulling star-thistle from the pasture to protect his horses.

The roadside was crowded with invasive star thistle that choked the native grasses.

The hikers avoided the path lined with star thistles because the spines could shred their boots.

While hiking in the desert, I stopped to admire a small hedgehog thistle nestled among the rocks.

We found several hedgehog thistles growing along the roadside.

So, you call this progress?

The botanist identified a rare thismiaceous specimen that lacked chlorophyll and bloomed underground.