Their most recognised name is a thistle, a Scottish thistle in most cases. The one above is the commonly seen form, lacking height and lacking a flower and/or bud. We all know them because everyone at some point has stepped on a tiny thistle in their yard and screamed in pain. Or at least everyone I've ever met here in Michigan. Anyways, I grew up calling these "pickers" and I've only seen reference to this variant once or twice online. I'm wondering if this is a strictly Michigan thing or if it is more common? How do you call these plants?
Last edited by Viktor77 on Mon May 23, 2011 1:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I've always called them thistles as well. I don't think I've heard anyone call them "pickers", although admittedly I don't recall seeing a lot of them growing up.
"There was a particular car I soon came to think of as distinctly St. Louis-ish: a gigantic white S.U.V. with a W. bumper sticker on it for George W. Bush."
tbh I only recognise that it's a thistle if it has the purple flower on the top.
Also, in English it's not "How do you call..." but "What do you call..." – this is an exceedingly common L2 error, and I'd expect better from even you Viktor...
Last edited by finlay on Mon May 23, 2011 2:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tbh I only recognise that it's a thistle if it has the purple flower on the top.
Also, in English it's not "How do you call..." but "What do you call..." – this is an exceedingly common L2 error, and I'd expect better from even you Viktor...
Blame Spanish and French. They've corrupted my English.
I call it a weed. Then I run it over with the lawnmower. ALONG WITH ITS FORTY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOUR SOCIETY SHALL FALL BEFORE MY WHEELING BLADES OF DEATH MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
In the arid parts of Central Texas they were called "Mexican thistles".
What I remember most about them is that they could still hurt your feet even through shoes. Or, they hurt my feet through my shoes, anyway.
"It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be said, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is.' Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."
– The Gospel of Thomas
a thistle, at least with the flower. without i would be unsure.
though i can never remember how to tell a scotch thistle from a nodding thistle (both are a pain in the arse to get rid of, one is, if memory serves, bad enough that you can get in legal trouble for Not eliminating it around here. the other is used as fodder for honey bees and makes great honey)
