Wanted Dead

Musk Thistle

Carduus nutans

Musk Thistle is a biennial plant that can act as an annual, with a very thick taproot.  The plant itself is capable of growing up to 8 feet tall.  Wherever Musk Thistle occurs in the state of NM, it is a problem.  It has large (1.5-3.0 cm) flower heads that can be deep rose, violet-purple, or white in color.  The flower heads are subtended by broad-based bracts that have a short spine at the tip.