Saffron thistle

Family: Asteraceae
Scientific name: Carthamus lanatus
Description: Plant Form: Erect annual herb Size: Up to 1 m tall. Stem: Yellowish white or pale green, rigid and ribbed. Leaves: Deeply lobed (dissected), spiny, 3-6 cm long. Flowers: Yellow, 1-2 cm diameter, with outer leaf-like bracts, often bent downwards, cobwebby, spiny. Fruit and Seeds: 5-6 mm long, smooth, naked, light brown, with parachuting hairs (pappus) of many linear scales 7-10 mm long. Habitat: Paddocks, disturbed areas, grasslands, generally open. Distinguishing Features: Combination of yellow flowers and dissected leaves ending in spines distinguish from other species in the genus Carthamus. Weed Status: Priority Weed Weed Type: Environmental, Agricultural, Invasive Garden Escapee Lifeform: Herbaceous

Example images for this weed