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cotton thistle, Scotch thistle, Scots thistle
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Noxious weed of dry, open areas and stream banks.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Biennial
– cotton thistle