Melancholy Thistle
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Cirsium heterophyllum
Scarce & localized in Britain.
The leaves are green and hairless above, thick white-felted underneath.
The basal leaves are lanceolate with petioles and softly prickly edges, and grow 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) long, and 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) wide.
The upper leaves do not have petioles, clasping the stem with cordate (heart-shaped) bases.
The flower heads are 3 to 5 cm long and wide, the flowers red-purple, appearing from July to August.