Marsh Thistle
Cirsium palustre

This biennial plant is very common and inhabits damp areas in pastures, meadows, marshy ground and wet woods in less disturbed places than most other thistles. The narrow leaves are dark-purplish in colour, especially when young and it has spiny wings along the length of its stems, The small pinkish-red flowerheads are clustered at the ends of the stems and branches. It is easily identifiable from most thistles by its very tall, slender stature.