SPEEDYDOG
Thanks for your comment on my "fighting bull thistles" status.
The long woody root of the bull thistle is editable. The root can be baked or boiled just like a potato. The taste is a bit like asparagus but more bland.
The roots and leaves can be also be used to make a healthful tea.
I am just trying to keep these nasty prickly monsters off my personal mountain biking trail system, "Mangled Mountain".
ADARKARA
I love that this is photo caused a debate! All the current guesses are wrong! For now, I'll leave it a mystery, because I'll be blogging about it soon. *grin* 2179 days ago