Carduus crispus

Carduus crispus, the curly plumeless thistle or welted thistle, is a biennial herb in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and Asia. The plant is found from Southwestern Europe, through Scandinavia and Siberia, to Eastern Asia. The species and genus is a favorite food plant of caterpillars of the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui), which derives its specific epithet, cardui, from their preference for Carduus thistles. It is also used by bees for honey production. Extracts from this plant have been found to have anti-cancer properties, the main one of which being crispine B. It is said to hold restorative and anodyne properties in its roots. Carduus crispus is an introduced species in North America, and a noxious weed in several U.S. states, including West Virginia. Media related to Carduus crispus at Wikimedia Commons