Hairy/prickly 'weed' with thorns. Looks like a dandelion leaf

13 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum, but have a question about this weed in my front lawn that was removed. At first glance, it looked like a dandelion, but upon closer inspection, it was not. I've tried googling for it with no luck. Maybe your plethora of planty knowledge can help me out.

Key features:

- Hairy / prickly leaves with thorns, notably on the tip of the leaf.

- Thorns were generally about 1cm, very thin and white.

- Grows a lot like a dandelion (in that same style of a bunch of leaves from one root area)

- Color is green/dark green

- IMO kind of ugly looking

It was growing on this kind of dirt mound around a tree (I dont know landscaping terminology). Apparently it likes the dirt mound since I found a spawn not too far from it; but the rest of the yard is normal grass.

Enclosed is a link to the pic:

http://yfrog.com/7d58363420j

I took it from my cellphone before getting it removed so sorry bout the quality. I assure you there are thorns and it definitely hurts. :U

Here is a link that might be useful: PIC: Prickly beast with thorns

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

2 years ago

Not sure I understand the reasoning of a brand new member (first post ever) coming to an 11 year old party and offering incorrect information to boot! The plant was correctly ID'd way back in 2011 as a thistle and even the photos used to establish that fact are now unavailable so that most recent erroneous comment is based on what exactly........??????

Dandelions, Taraxacum officinale, do NOT develop thorns at any point in their life cycle!

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Comments (9)

anitamo
13 years ago
Some type of thistle I believe.
pitimpinai
13 years ago
It's a thistle. Uggg...
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jeanne
13 years ago
It's Cirsium vulgare, bull thistle.

Here is a link that might be useful: Google image results
Embothrium
13 years ago
Likes dirt mounds. I pulled some out of a topsoil pile today. Dig yours out before it gets bigger and even better able to pierce gloves and skin.
fatamorgana2121
13 years ago
More importantly if your don't want more thistles is to get rid of the plant before it blooms. The bull thistle is a biennial which means it has a 2 year life cycle. It blooms in its second year and you have a second year plant.

FataMorgana
Jerry Schuller
2 years ago
Actually that IS a dandelion. They develop thorns after they're done producing flowers.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
This site is ruined. While browsing, really old discussions pop up to the right.
fig_insanity Z7b E TN
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I will add to gardengal's very accurate critique in stating that since the original photo is no longer viewable (yfrog.com is defunct), there is NO WAY someone can come along 11 years later and identify a plant as a "dandelion" when they can't even see it; not to mention that dandelions never, ever, not in this timeline/universe/reality develop thorns...or prickles...or stickers...

Are we being trolled on a 11 year old post? If so, someone really needs a life.

Might it even be How-uzzlezz trying to create traffic? If so, we fell into the clutches of their evil scheme, lol.