aka Cayuse Thistle, Indian Thistle. Supposedly Lewis and Clark found this prickly plant tasty – it’s actually the lower stem and taproot that provides emergency food. This large, up to 6′ (2 mm), weedlike plant should not be overlooked for its showy qualities. The 2 ” – 3″ flowerhead is composed of hundreds of beautiful pink-purple thread-like disk flowers. This species is found only in Washington and southern Bristish Columbia. Common in forest openings, meadows, alongside roads and open slopes to about 6,000′ elevation.