Globe Thistle

Globe thistles are spiny thistle-like plants with tightly-symmetrical globed flower heads, with solitary florets for each flowerhead. The thistle-down, or pappus, has bristles or scales.

Echinops ritro is a tall, erect plant with glandular hairs. The leaves are elliptical, pinnately-divided into segments tipped by long slender spines. The leaves have recurved margins and generally white felted undersides.