musk thistle Carduus nutans Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta Musk thistle is also known as nodding Class: Magnoliopsida thistle. These plants may be biennial or annual. Order: Asterales They originally grow as a rosette of basal leaves from which a tall stalk will arise. The leaves are Family: Asteraceae lobed and have white to gold spines along the ILLINOIS STATUS margins. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The hairy stem is upright and branched and common, nonnative has spiny wings. Many flowers are crowded together into heads at the stem tips. Flower color ranges from shades of pink to light purple. The fruit is an achene (hard, dry, one‐seeded fruit). There are spiny bracts below the flower heads. The flower heads often tilt downward on one side. Musk thistles may attain a height of one and one‐half to six feet. BEHAVIORS Musk thistle may be found throughout Illinois. It grows in roadsides, along railroads and in pastures. Flowers are produced from May through October. This species of thistle is naturalized from Europe. ILLINOIS RANGE © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. flower heads leaflet © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Aquatic Habitats none Woodland Habitats none Prairie and Edge Habitats edge leaflet © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources..