We were excited to see this spiny thistle on a Norfolk Flora Group outing to Berney Marshes. A large stand was found growing in a drier area, around the base of a disused windmill alongside Breydon water. This plant is typically found near the coast, but the last time I recorded it was well inland on a sandy slope at the UEA.

After examining the pappus hairs with a x10 lens we could see that the hairs were simple, confirming that this plant belonged to was the genus Carduus (Cirsium has branched pappus hairs)