Help wanted...

I have a large weed/plant growing underneath a cherry tree, it is approx 6ft tall with a double leaf arrangment growing up the stem. The two leaves grow as one with the stem poking through the middle. they are long and narrow (approx 10inches long), incline upwards and create a bowl at the center. they also have very sharp thornes/spines on the underside. The stem is also very spiny and there are flowers starting to appear at the top that look a little like a thistle, any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/research/VMG/images/teasel1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/research/VMG/teasel.html&usg=__zOewIW5F-9juxH_hAEJe_Zxta-U=&h=403&w=275&sz=88&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=MwOjgoD6FYkE8M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dteasel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4GFRE_enGB370GB370%26tbs%3Disch:1

Does it look like the teasle in the above humungus link ?

 

Guess not then :snz:

 

Definitely sounds like a Teasle...

 

:mwlwn:Its the suspense thats killing me

 

Don`t hold your breath Ziggy, he`s not been on site since that post.:gnthb:

 

Diolch Dai, you've put me out of my misery, i,ve put the rope back in the shed with the shotgun. Guess we'll never know.:dh:

 

In my last job I was the plant area manager of a major garden centre here in South Wales. As such, I feel qualified to agree with your estimation that it is, without doubt, Teasel.:gnthb: