An extremely aggressive weed in dry habitats, this species often forms extensive monocultural stands. The stiff spines beneath the flower heads are often greater than an inch long. Each head produces 2 types of seeds, some with fluffy attachments for wind dissemination and the other without such attachments which fall near the parent plant. After seed shed, the prominently white, fuzzy receptacle remains and has earned the plant the common name of `cotton-top thistle` in Britain. The plant is very toxic to horses. In some areas it is called Barnaby or Barnaby`s thistle.