Cut-leaved teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)

Caution!!! Danger!!! This above plant is a horrible invasive plant from Europe and is quickly spreading across North America. This plant has recently become a huge nuisance in North America because it is highly aggressive and produces many seeds. The seeds can travel far by wind because the seeds sit atop a tall plant, upwards to six feet tall. It is ubiquitously seen along roadsides, empty lots, abandoned fields, wastelands, and even in home gardens. It is a very hard plant to get rid of especially in restoration ecology where the plant may persist for many years. The seeds are viable for many years and may suddenly come up out of the blue. The close relative, common teasel, is also highly invasive, but has lavender instead of white flowers.