Notes For Reference:-

Species, Varieties, or Forms in the Genus Cirsium:
Cirsium bitchuense / Bicchuuazami
Cirsium buergeri / Himeazami
Cirsium chokaiense / Choushuuazami
Cirsium congestissimum / Hittsukiazami
Cirsium indefensum / Togenashiazami
Cirsium indefensum./ Izumoazami
Cirsium japonicum v. japonicum/Noazami
Cirsium japonicum var. japonicum f. albiflorum / Shirobananoazami
Circium mirabile / Obakeazami
Cirsium japonicum var. okiense / Okinoazami
Cirsium japonica var. vestitum /

Cirsium japonicum var. japonicum / Noazami ノアザミ

Cirsium japonicum var. japonicum, a perennial herb with a height of 0.5-1m, is the only thistle that blooms in the springtime and is the most common across the country. Leaves, pinnatifid radical ones at the bases of the plant, remain in flowering time, and on-stem leaves, with sharp prickles on the margins, embrace the stems with the ends. Flower heads, 4-5cm in diameter, are red-purple and bloom upwards. Involucres are 2-4cm across, spherical; the bracts are sticky, facing straight upward. Bloom time May-August.