Single dried head of a milk thistle, Silybum marianum, showing the spine-tipped bracts and lovely fluffy, soft seeds before air dispersal.

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Thistles are invasive non-native plants where I live, but I love their structure and how they change as they dry out and seed.

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Size: 4000px × 6000px
Location: Carlsbad, California, USA
Photo credit: © Susan Heller / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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