Although present in North America before 1900 (Y and his citations), this robust alien biennial weed (known as "musk" or "nodding" thistle) was not properly documented in Ky. until about 1970 (Meijer 1972a). As in temperate regions across the continent, nutans has increased during recent decades to become one of the most abundant thistles. Its southern limit lies well to the south, on the Coastal Plain (K, SE).