Cirsium eriophorum Scop.

A herb. It is a medium sized thistle. It takes 2 years to complete its life-cycle. It grows 1.5 m high. The stems are unwinged. They are white and cottony. They are branched above. The leaves are divided into leaflets. There are long rigid spines. The leaves are white and cottony underneath. The flower heads are large. They are 25-50 mm across. They are reddish-purple. They usually occur singly. They are erect. The flower bracts have cobwebby hairs between them. The outer bracts curve backwards and have spines at their tips.

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in rough grassland and scrub.

The young leaves and shoots are eaten as a salad. The young stalks are peeled and soaked in water to remove the bitterness then eaten. They can be used in pies like rhubarb. The pulpy receptacles are eaten like artichoke.

Can be grown by seedlings.