Woolly Thistle

''Cirsium eriophorum'', the woolly thistle, is a herbaceous biennial species of the genus ''Cirsium''. It is widespread across much of Europe. It is a large, biennial herb with sharp spines on the tips of the leaves, and long, woolly hairs on much of the herbage. Flower heads are large and nearly spherical, with spines on the outside and many purple disc florets but no ray florets.