This prickly polyploid weed (2n = 68) is widespread in temperatre regions of North America. In Ky. it became the most common thistle in farmland early after settlement (Short et al. 1833; Gm), but other species have now surpassed it in some areas. This species and others in the genus Cirsium have been widely used for food (peeked stems and roots) or medicinal purposes in ancient cultures (e.g. Sabudak et al. 2017). The allied genus Mediterranean Cynara has become especially important for human consumption in some cultivars (globe artichoke and cardoon). Cynara differs from Cirsium in its larger heads and leaves; also it is generally perennial (versus generally biennial).